Louisville basketball's No. 1 target in the 2026 recruiting class is undoubtedly the Louisville native and the No. 1 recruit in the cycle, Tyran Stokes. The 6-foot-7 225 225-pound small forward is the most dominant recruit in the class and has proven over the years that he is the clear best player in this highly recruited class.
The Cardinals were once the dominant favorite to land Stokes after landing a visit back in October 2024, but since then, he has visited Kentucky and Kansas and has a few more visits lined up. Stokes and his party have done an excellent job of keeping his recruiting process a big secret and making his decision somewhat mysterious, but now and then, a hint is let out, making Louisville or Kentucky fans believe they are the favorite.