1. Mikel Brown Jr.
Mikel Brown Jr. emerges as one of the best freshmen and college basketball players entering the 2025-26 season. The 5-star point guard is ranked as high as the No. 6 recruit in the 2025 recruiting class and the No. 1 point guard, and all offseason, he has proved why he is worth the hype.
Brown had a dominant gold medal run for Team USA, where he led the Stars and Stripes in points, assists, efficiency, and made 3-pointers. He secured two 24-point performances during the FIBA U19 World Cups and demonstrated his ability to take over at any point of the game.
The 5-star guard is already hearing his name as a top-five 2026 NBA Draft pick. The only flaw in his game was that he was a bit undersized, but this offseason, he grew two inches and is now 6-foot-5.
Brown is the second-highest rated commit in Louisville basketball history, and he, paired with the three transfers and key returners, is poised not only for a monster of a season but also for a Louisville basketball Final Four run.
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