Kansas is once again staring across the aisle at Louisville in the transfer market, and this time the target is Jaxon Kohler.
The Cardinals have surfaced as a new contender for the former Michigan State big man, according to CBS Sports analyst Jon Rothstein. Kohler’s original list included Kansas, BYU, Kentucky, and possibly a return to Michigan State, but Louisville has now entered the picture as he takes a longer look at his options.
Jaxon Kohler tells me that he's now also receiving interest from Louisville. https://t.co/wImHtpApv2
For Kansas, the timing is awkward. The Jayhawks already watched Louisville beat them to Flory Bidunga in the portal after what was reportedly a massive NIL push north of $5 million for the upcoming campaign. That created some bad blood between the programs, and the two are set to meet again when Louisville visits Allen Fieldhouse for a preseason exhibition in two months.
KU’s frontcourt need is real. The Jayhawks are thin inside after Bidunga’s departure, and Charleston transfer Christian Reeves, who was expected to help fill the gap, could be sidelined for an extended stretch after offseason shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum. Kohler looked like a clean fit as Reeves recovers, bringing strong rebounding and floor-spacing ability that could have elevated Kansas from a good team to a dangerous one.
Instead, Louisville may be pushing its way into the conversation with the same kind of financial muscle that already cost Kansas Bidunga.
Kohler’s production at Michigan State gives every suitor a solid case. As a senior in East Lansing, he put up 12.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. He went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, then played for the Jazz in Summer League, which helped BYU emerge as the early favorite.
There is also a major eligibility wrinkle still hanging over the situation. It remains unclear whether Kohler will be officially eligible for the 2026-27 season after the NCAA announced yesterday that it would not grant a blanket waiver to Class of 2022 athletes. A federal court injunction, however, currently requires the NCAA to temporarily provide those players with extra eligibility.
If Kohler ends up elsewhere, Kansas can at least stomach it more easily if the destination is BYU, another team with frontcourt needs. But if Louisville swoops in and takes him too, that would be a much tougher pill to swallow. For now, the Jayhawks are still hunting for help inside, and they need to land Kohler or another transfer within the next month to stabilize the roster.
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