Pat Kelsey’s 2027 recruiting push is still loaded with big names, but Louisville just took a hit in one of its highest-profile pursuits.
Five-star small forward Asa Montgomery has canceled upcoming official visits to Louisville and Arizona, according to On3 Sports’ Joe Tipton. The news trims Louisville’s path with one of the country’s top forwards, even as the Cardinals remain heavily involved with other elite prospects in the class.
Montgomery, a 6-foot-7, 200-pound forward from Georgia, sits among the nation’s top recruits across the major rankings. Rivals has him as high as No. 3 overall, ESPN lists him at No. 8 nationally, and On3 Sports puts him at No.
- He’s also ranked as high as No. 2 among small forwards.
Louisville had earned an official visit from Montgomery earlier this summer, when he laid out eight visits in all. The other programs on that list were LSU, Florida, UConn, Providence, North Carolina, Duke and Arizona. With Louisville and Arizona now removed, the focus appears to be shifting toward the remaining schools.
Duke is currently the clear leader in the race, at least by the numbers. Rivals’ Prediction Meter gives Jon Scheyer a 78.2 percent chance to land Montgomery.
Montgomery’s résumé is strong beyond the rankings. He won a gold medal with Team USA at the U17 World Cup and averaged 24.1 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.3 blocks per game in the EYCL.
Even with the setback on Montgomery, Louisville’s 2027 board is still in a strong place. Kelsey has also made a major run at No. 2 overall recruit DeMarcus Henry, and that pursuit continues to look like the priority. The Cardinals earned an official visit from Henry, traveled to see him in September, and Kelsey recently praised what separates him from the pack.
For Louisville, Montgomery’s cancellation stings. But the bigger picture is still clear: Kelsey is swinging hard at the top of the board, and Henry remains the central target at small forward.
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