Louisville basketball learned heartbreaking news yesterday that they struck out on one of their top dream targets and one of the best players in the nation, Jordan Smith Jr. The consensus 5-star guard cut his list down to just six schools after earning over 20 offers, and Louisville was utterly stunned when they found out they did not cut.
The Cardinals were once an early frontrunner to land Smith's commitment, and recently, he told college basketball reporter Joe Tipton that he plans to visit Louisville once more before announcing his decision. That appears to be scratched as he will no longer consider the Cardinals and will move on with his recruiting process with Kentucky, Duke, Indiana, Georgetown, Syracuse, and Arkansas.
While Louisville is devastated, they didn't make the 5-star final six; it might be a good sign for Louisville and make it clear as day that the Cardinals now must put all their marbles in one basket and get their No. 1 point guard in the 2026 class, Taylen Kinney.
Related: Louisville makes Taylen Kinney priority one as decision between two 5-stars looms
Louisville zeros in on top target Taylen Kinney
Louisville has made it clear that their guy is Kinney. The 5-star guard is ranked as high as No. 11 in the 2026 class and the best point guard in the 2026 cycle. The 5-star guard is a Kentucky native, as he played for Newport early in his high school career before moving on to more competitive environments.
The Newport, Ky. native told reporters that Kelsey made it clear that he is "their guy" and that they are all-in on him. Louisville loves to target Kentucky natives, and the fans are dreaming of teaming up Kinney and the nation's No. 1 recruit, Tyran Stokes.
The Cardinals striking out on Smith is a gut-wrenching blow, but it allows Kelsey to go now and get his No. 1 guy. He doesn't have to keep building relationships with Smith or these other 5-stars; his No. 1 priority is Kinney and Stokes, and now he can get them.
It worked out last year when he signed Mikel Brown Jr., and now the plan is to do the same with Kinney. Louisville is trending to become one of the best spots for guards. Last season, Kelsey proved he can be an elite system for NBA guards and develop young stars into future NBA All-Stars.
The Cardinals made Kinney's top 12, and Louisville will face significant competition to earn his commitment. However, Tipton reported that the Cardinals were his frontrunner to land his commitment, and it appears the Cardinals' biggest competition is in-state rival Mark Pope's Kentucky Wildcats.
Related: 3 realistic commitments that would make Louisville’s 2026 class perfect
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.