Louisville basketball got some concerning news this week as they learned they are no longer the dominant favorite to land Kentucky native and No. 1 point guard Taylen Kinney. The 5-star point guard is one of Kelsey's top targets as he ranks as a top 15 prospect in the 2026 class, but it was reported that the Cardinals are in a three-team battle with Kansas and Kentucky.
Now, to make matters worse, the Cardinals' glaring No. 1 target and the nation's No. 1 overall prospect, Tyran Stokes, is possibly slipping out of Kelsey's hands as well. Multiple reporters are reporting Kentucky to be the slight favorite, and Rivals’ Joe Tipton reported that Stokes is scheduled to take an official visit to USC this weekend, and that could be a sign the Trojans are trending in the right direction as well now.
5⭐️ Tyran Stokes, the No. 1 player in the country, is taking an official visit to USC this weekend, source tells @Rivals. https://t.co/tt6KfbbCUz pic.twitter.com/TnKvmY3u5U
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) September 5, 2025
Related: Louisville in serious danger of losing Tyran Stokes to Kentucky after crushing update
Nation's No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes scheduled to visit USC over the weekend
The 6-foot-7 225 225-pound forward was the first 2026 recruit to visit Louisville early fall in 2024, and it led the Cardinals to be the dominant favorite early on in his recruiting process. However, it never led to a commitment, and Louisville hasn't earned another visit to Kelsy's program. Nevertheless, it will be visiting USC this weekend and also plans to visit Oregon and Gonzaga.
Since Louisville's visit, he has also visited Kentucky and Kansas, causing Louisville's dominant lead for his commitment to slip away. Louisville has missed out on multiple small forwards and power forwards in the 2026 recruiting class, making Stokes a must-grab for Kelsey and his Cardinals.
Stokes, being a Louisville native, makes it essential for the university to secure his commitment, as it would elevate the program to the next level and help it attract future high school superstars. Kelsey took a massive step in the right direction when he earned a 5-star Mikel Brown Jr. commitment back in January, and now fans are eager to take that next step and lock up the nation's No. 1 recruit.
While USC makes this push, the Cardinals must do all they can to stay near the top and remain one of the favorites. Landing Stokes would carry the momentum from earning Brown's commitment and would skyrocket this program to emerge as a dominant recruiting program.
Related: Tyran Stokes teases recruiting decision leaving Louisville fans anxiously watching
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.