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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Brian Brohms Camp Praise Came With One Louisville Concern
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The one concern hanging over the practice field was Isaac Brown, who took part in some early reps before moving to work with a trainer. Brown remains a central piece of Louisvilles offensive picture, so any interruption to his camp rhythm matters, especially with the quarterback group still building timing and comfort across the offense. Brohms optimism about Browns progress offered some reassurance, but the Cardinals will be watching closely to see how quickly he gets back into the full flow of team work. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Could Still Add The Piece That Changes Everything
Louisville has already leaned heavily on the transfer portal this offseason, building what looks like a deeper and more competitive roster for the next few seasons. Even with that work largely done, the Cardinals now have a new wrinkle to consider after the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to the class of 2022, opening the door for more experienced talent to come back to college and reshuffle the market.
Among the names drawing attention is Seth Trimble, with Louisville reported to be one of the programs showing interest. Trimble spent time in the NBA Summer League and is still sorting out whether his next step will be professional basketball or a return to the college game, leaving the Cardinals in a familiar spot for this time of year: positioned near the front of the conversation while the rest of the decision remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Is Getting The Kind Of Preseason Buzz Fans Craved
Preseason lists do not decide anything, but they do say plenty about how a program is being viewed heading into August, and Louisville is finally getting the kind of attention its fans have been waiting for. Joel Klatt put the Cardinals at No. 19 in his 2026 preseason top 25, a nod to Jeff Brohms work and the steadiness Louisville has shown under him, with nine-win seasons becoming the baseline rather than the exception.
The buzz is not just about what Brohm has already built, either. Louisville backed it up with one of the nations best Transfer Portal hauls, adding quarterback Lincoln Kienholz and running back Isaac Brown to a roster that now has real ACC contender language attached to it. The early test will come quickly, with Ole Miss waiting on opening weekend, and that kind of spotlight will tell a lot about whether the Cardinals are ready to turn preseason optimism into something bigger. [Read more 🡒]