1. Mikel Brown Jr.
As of now, the Cardinals have only received two commitments from the class of 2025. The big one was their commitment from the 5-star, Mikel Brown Jr. Louisville basketball's program skyrocketed on Jan. 1 when Brown announced his commitment as the Cardinals culture immediately improved.
The No. 6 overall player in the class of 2025 is also the No. 1 point guard in the class, as he has tremendous experience in his young basketball life. Brown has already won a gold medal with Team USA, where he started every game at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup. The Cardinals secured massive commitments from Fru, Wooley, McKneely, and Conwell, and these players joining the 2025 commitment will help not only Brown this year but also his career. Brown is projected as a top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and playing with Kelsey and this elite lineup, his draft stock will only improve.
Brown averaged 29.2 points per game last year with DME Academy, and his elite playmaking will gel perfectly with this Cardinals roster. He recently won the McDonald's All-Americna 3-Point Contest, and his ability to knock down jumpers from downtown will translate to the next level.
The 5-star commit and Cardinals' three sharpshooters will all make each other better, but Brown and Wooley playing next to each other will be a nightmare scenario for the opposing teams. The Cardinal's future point guard has the skills of creating space and finding the bottom of the net off a jumper, or can use his shiftiness and craft to drive to the cup and finish at the rim through contact.
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Louisville will have one of the best backcourts in the nation next year, and Brown will be at the center of the attention. The 6-foot-3 point guard will bring elite ball-handling, shooting, and energy to this Cardinals roster. Brown is the second-highest-rated prospect to commit to the Louisville basketball program, and he will now look to bring the Cardinals a National Championship.