Louisville basketball fans are locked in on a couple of recruits right now, but the biggest name at the moment is elite shooting guard Colben Landrew. The Cards have been in hot pursuit of the 4-star for many months now, and in his final six, with his commitment announcement coming tomorrow.
Landrew is a top 20 recruit and one of the biggest names in the 2026 recruiting class after making a massive jump in the 2026 rankings this summer. Pat Kelsey and his coaching staff extended an offer a bit later than the other programs, but he has been all-in on Landrew since this summer, taking multiple visits.
Now, with Landrew's commitment coming tomorrow, Louisville desperately needs to secure this elite recruit, or it may face significant consequences.
Related: Louisville's top SG target is clear after Pat Kelsey's push for elite 4-star recruit
Louisville must land elite SG over UConn and others tomorrow
Louisville has yet to earn a commitment in the 2026 recruiting class, and if the Cardinals want any chance at landing stars like Tyran Stokes or Deron Rippey, they must get a star like Landrew.
The shooting guard ranks as high as No. 17 in the nation by Rivals, and the No. 3 shooting guard in the cycle. At 6-foot-6 and 205 pounds, he also ranks as a small forward by 247 Sports, where he is listed as No. 21 in the nation and the No. 9 small forward in the class.
If the Cardinals strike out on Landrew, it is hard to imagine Stokes committing to Louisville and being the first commit to the Cardinals. On the flip side, if Louisville lands Landrew, they can use that to pitch to Stokes and create an elite 2026 class. Louisville needs to secure its first commitment to initiate the domino effect and attract a chain of recruits, similar to what happened with Kansas after Taylen Kinney committed to the Jayhawks.
Landrew is a star in the making, and after Louisville received an official visit in September, Kelsey had recruited him hard and has emerged as one of the top favorites. The Cardinals fans believe it is between them and UConn, while Texas A&M, Purdue, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss are slightly behind.
Louisville fans are holding their breath as the commitment announcement draws closer, but it is clear that if they want any shot at Stokes and other 5-stars, they must land Landrew; otherwise, they will face significant consequences and most likely strike out on other elite top targets in the 2026 class.
Related: 2 Dream, 2 reach, 2 realistic targets for Louisville after Taylen Kinney's commitment
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.