Louisville basketball: 2025 target 5-star Meleek Thomas Nike EYBL Memphis Session Report

Five-star point guard Meleek Thomas is the No. 6 overall player in the Class of 2025 and holds a plethora of Division I scholarship offers from programs around the country. The University of Louisville offered him a scholarship on April 27, 2023.

Standing at 6-foot-4 and 175 pounds, he has a perfect frame for a point guard. He currently plays his high school basketball for Lincoln Park Performing Arts in Midland, Pennsylvania. Last season, he led them to a 31-1 overall record.

Now, he is playing on the 2023 Nike EYBL Circuit for the New Heights Lightning. The Lightning are 13-4 overall in the Nike EYBL circuit and this past weekend in Memphis, Tennessee, Thomas averaged 11 points per game, while shooting 45% from the field. Not his best weekend, but he is still an elite point guard with a very bright future ahead of him.

Per a report, growing up, Meleek Thomas’ favorite team was the Duke Blue Devils, which would most likely give them the edge over any other program at this point especially considering they extended him an offer on April 23, 2023.

But, four days later is when Louisville extended him a scholarship offer, and one thing that Louisville and Meleek Thomas have in common: a love for a former Blue Devil. Assistant Coach Nolan Smith spent his college career playing in Cameron Indoor Stadium and spent a better part of his coaching career on the sidelines with Coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Now, he is obviously on the Louisville coaching staff and could be an x-factor in helping recruit Meleek Thomas to Louisville, Kentucky.

"“Considering Thomas is a versatile perimeter weapon, Cardinals assistant and busy recruiter Nolan Smith must be integral in their efforts to land him.Of course, Smith was a 2010 national champ as a potent Duke basketball guard. He joined the Blue Devil staff as a special assistant in 2016, became director of basketball operations in 2018, and was promoted to a full-fledged assistant in 2021 before leaving for Louisville following Mike Krzyzewski’s retirement last year.Still, although Louisville finished dead last in the ACC last season and with a 4-28 overall record, the Cardinals are nothing to sneeze at on the recruiting trail. Head coach Kenny Payne and his crew reeled in two top-30 recruits in the 2023 cycle, plus three more graduating preps and a pair of notable transfers.”"

Kenny Payne and staff have completely turned this roster around and could be on pace to set the most improved record from a previous season to the next. Nolan Smith was definitely a big part of that process and he helped play a role in scheduling an official visit for five-star Mackenzie Mgbako before he ended up committing to the Indiana Hoosiers.

Thomas is still a long way away from determining his college destination, but Louisville would welcome him with open arms and it will be interesting to watch how his recruiting continues to unfold.