Louisville basketball’s offseason is turning heads nationwide as Pat Kelsey is building a dominant Cardinals team from the Transfer Portal. Louisville lost all five starters from this past season and nine of its top ten players, forcing Kelsey to rebuild.
Pat Kelsey and Louisville basketball gaining serious Final Four buzz in latest rankings
Well, Kelsey has done a phenomenal job working the portal in his year as Louisville’s head coach, and this offseason has been his best yet. Kelsey has landed six transfers so far, including multiple 4-stars and one 5-star in Flory Bidunga, who ranks No. 1 overall.
Now, he is looking to build his bench and add depth to this lineup, as it has recently been reported that Kelsey has reached out to Georgia Tech transfer Akai Fleming.
Louisville basketball targeting 4-star SG Akai Fleming
Louisville is one of many teams that have reached out to the former 4-star recruit out of high school, as Rising Ballers Network reports the Cardinals are in a recruiting battle with Oregon, Gonzaga, Dayton, Georgetown, USC, and more.
Georgia Tech freshman Akai Fleming has heard from the following programs per @SKPearlman of @VerusTeam
— Rising Ballers Network (@dylan_lutey) May 2, 2026
Louisville
USC
Georgetown
Gonzaga
Oregon
Dayton
& more
The former top-60 recruit averaged 10.4 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 32.9% 3FG. pic.twitter.com/5L4bvYgrtl
Louisville needs depth in its backcourt, and it appears the former 4-star is emerging as a potential candidate for the Cardinals. Right now, Louisville has Jackson Shelstad, Adrian Wooley, London Johnson, and De'Shayne Montgomery.
The true freshman was ranked No. 87 overall in the 2025 recruiting class and No. 17 among shooting guards in the 2025 cycle. The Georgia native earned offers from Georgia Tech, Georgia, LSU, SMU, Indiana, Alabama, and others, but ultimately committed to the Yellow Jackets.
Now, he is available on the portal, ranking No. 152 overall and No. 29 among shooting guards. He is the 10th-best transfer available on the portal, still available as of May 3, and the fourth-best shooting guard.
This past season, he averaged 10.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while starting in 22 of 30 games. He shot 37.3 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from beyond the arc. He scored 15 points or more in nine games, including one 18-point game, two 19-point games, and his career-high of 20 points against Lafayette
The Cardinals need some depth, and with Fleming’s potential, it appears Kelsey is looking to go and target the former 4-star.
2 moves Louisville basketball must still make to have fans dreaming of the Final Four
For all the latest news and updates on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.
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