Louisville’s search for another piece appears to have zeroed in on a name that fits the roster need cleanly: Minnesota transfer Cade Tyson.
Pat Kelsey hinted earlier this month that the Cardinals weren’t done monitoring the market, and he made clear he planned to stay on top of it. “But this craziness that's going on, you have to stay vigilant,” stated Kelsey. “I would be not doing my job, and I would be asleep at the wheel, if you're not staying attentive to what's going on out there."
That vigilance may now be paying off. Louisville is reportedly in the mix for Tyson, an elite perimeter shooter who is also drawing interest from Kentucky, Kansas, LSU, Michigan, NC State, and others. A source told Dylan that Tyson and Kentucky’s coaching staff held two Zoom calls this past week, while several programs have already made contact.
Minnesota Transfer SF Cade Tyson and Kentucky’s Coaching Staff held 2 zoom calls this past week, a source tells me.
Kansas, Louisville, LSU, Michigan, NC State, + More have made contact. #BBN #KentuckyBasketball https://t.co/WcjjmCd5EA
- Dylan (@BigBlueDylan) August 9, 2026
Tyson’s production has taken a huge jump over the course of his college career. He averaged 2.6 points per game at North Carolina, then moved to Minnesota and put up 19.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from 3-point range.
That kind of shooting is exactly why Louisville would have interest. Tyson averaged 2.2 made 3s per game and hit 71 total triples last season.
He also has a track record that stretches back to Belmont, where he spent his first two college seasons before his lone year at UNC in 2024-25. As a true freshman, he made 48 3s at 41.7 percent, then followed that with a career-high 80 made 3s while shooting 46.5 percent from deep.
At 6-foot-7 and 195 pounds, Tyson brings the size to shoot over defenders and the skill to punish teams from outside. Last season at Minnesota, he scored 20 or more points in 15 games, reached 25 points five times, topped 30 points twice, and posted a career-best 38 points against Texas Southern.
He also had 13 games with at least three made 3s and three games with five or more. Among those standout nights were a 20-point outing after making five 3s against Michigan, a 27-point game after hitting 7-of-10 from deep against Rutgers, and the 38-point explosion against Texas Southern when he went 8-of-12 from beyond the arc.
If Louisville does land Tyson, the fit is obvious. The Cardinals are looking for shooting, and he brings plenty of it.
In Other News...
Pat Kelseys Next Recruiting Push Could Put Louisville In The Mix
Pat Kelsey has wasted little time trying to widen Louisvilles recruiting footprint, and the early push has stretched well beyond the class of 2027. The Cardinals have been in on a group of high-end targets that includes five-star prospects Reese Alston, Demarcus Henry and Darius Wabbington, a sign that Kelsey and his staff are aiming high as they build for the next wave of roster talent.
One of the more intriguing names on the board is Benjamin Berrouet, a nationally ranked five-star power forward in the class of 2028 who has already drawn attention from several major programs. Louisville assistant Ronnie Hamilton recently got a closer look at Berrouet during a FIBA U16 event, another indication that the Cardinals are trying to stay ahead of the curve with younger elite prospects before the race for his commitment really heats up. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Just Made A Move For An Elite Young Big Man
Benji Berrouets stock keeps rising, and Louisville has made sure it is firmly in the mix. The 2028 composite five-star big man put together a dominant showing for Latvia in a FIBA U16 competition in Romania, piling up 33 points and 22 rebounds, while Cardinals assistant Ronnie Hamilton was on hand to watch. Berrouet has been on Louisvilles radar since the NBPA Top 100 camp, and the programs interest has now moved beyond observation.
The next part figures to get crowded in a hurry. Berrouet is weighing a national list of heavy hitters that also includes Baylor, Texas, UCLA, Miami, Kentucky, Arkansas, Houston and USC, and he plans to line up visits soon. For Louisville, landing in that conversation at this stage is the kind of early step that matters, especially with an elite young frontcourt talent whose recruitment is only beginning to take shape. [Read more 🡒]