Louisville’s Top Recruit Mikel Brown Jr. Shines at Nike Hoop Summit
The Louisville Cardinals turned heads this past college basketball season, but their rise makes more sense when you look at the leadership of new head coach Pat Kelsey.
Kelsey inherited a bare roster after the departure of the previous team, facing a major rebuilding challenge. He quickly retooled the squad through the transfer portal and led Louisville to the NCAA Tournament in his first season. Despite a strong record—just six regular season losses—they received a lower-than-expected seed.
“We’re very grateful and excited to be in the national tournament,” Kelsey shared on KY Sports Radio. “But I’ll be honest, it stung a bit when we saw our placement on the selection show.”
Looking ahead, Louisville is projected to start the next season ranked in the top ten—a milestone the program hasn’t reached in over ten years. Kelsey’s impact is clear, both in performance and recruiting. His efforts were recently recognized with a pay raise.
Leading the incoming class is Mikel Brown Jr., a standout high school player who is making waves at the Nike Hoop Summit. Brown is already seen as one of the top guards in the 2025 class.
“Louisville-bound Mikel Brown is having an incredible week at the Nike Hoop Summit,” wrote Jonathan Givony. “He’s clearly the best guard prospect out there—gets wherever he wants on the court, has excellent shooting range, and can distribute the ball.”
Brown is already being seen as the future leader of the team, and his performance continues to back up that expectation, even before he officially joins the Cardinals.
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