Ever since Pat Kelsey arrived in Louisville as their head coach final yr, he made one factor clear, and that’s he desires this program to be an enormous goal for 5-star recruits. The Louisville Cardinals have prolonged over 25 affords to the 2026 class and have already garnered a number of visits from elite 5-star recruits.
This previous week, the NBA Gamers Affiliation’s High 100 Camp happened on the Rock Hill Sports activities and Occasion Heart, that includes prime targets from across the nation. Louisville has been ready to listen to some excellent news from just a few of the 5-star gamers who competed at this occasion, they usually lastly acquired an enormous report from the 5-star ahead Qayden Samuels.
247Sports Jody Demling reported that the elite 5-star ahead recruiting course of is “vast open proper now,” however Louisville basketball is trending as considered one of his prime targets.
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Samuels is an enormous 5-star ahead from Bishop McNamara Excessive College. The 6-foot-5 205-pound ahead is ranked as excessive as No. 10 within the 2026 cycle and the fourth-best small ahead, per ESPN. On3 Sports activities additionally classifies him as a taking pictures guard and thinks simply as extremely of him, as he’s ranked No. 15 within the nation and the fourth-best taking pictures guard.
The 5-star guard/ahead has earned over 20 affords already, however based on Demling, he’s eyeing up an enormous go to to Louisville this August.
“That is the one factor I’ve scheduled proper now,” Samuels said to Demling, “I like and I like their coach. He got here to considered one of my exercises earlier than, wonderful. I like his vitality, I like how he talks to me, I like him. He reveals love.” Samuels said about love he has for Louisville and Kelsey.
Samuels has earned affords from big-time faculties already, as Georgetown and Villanova presently paved the way, per On3 Sports activities predictions. Additionally, making affords embody Alabama, Texas, Kansas, Tennessee, and lots of others.
Demling stories that Samuels is trending to the Cardinals for a go to later this Summer time in August with one other 5-star, Jordan Smith. The Cardinals are hoping for an enormous summer season and to earn a big-time splash for his or her first 2026 dedication.
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The 5-star is averaging 21.2 factors, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per recreation whereas taking pictures 43.5 p.c from the sector and 43.1 p.c from past the arc in 17U EYBL division.
For all the newest on Louisville basketball’s offseason and recruiting, keep tuned.
