Louisville basketball earned a historic commitment early this year, after the 5-star point guard Mikel Brown Jr. ranks as the second-highest player to ever commit to the Cardinals basketball program. The Florida native was one of the top recruits in the nation, receiving over 25 offers. He would choose Pat Kelsey and the Cardinals over elite programs like Alabama, Michigan, Auburn, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and more.
Brown is expected to be a key piece on Kelsey's National Championship-contending team. The 5-star is already making headlines for the 2026 NBA Draft. Brown was a McDonald's All-American and won the 3-Point Contest, proving his ceiling is extremely high next season.
Recently, in an article by Cameron Salerno of CBS Sports, the writer listed eight freshmen that college basketball fans must watch during the 2025-26 season, and the 5-star Cardinals commit was one of the future stars highlighted.
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Louisville's 5-star Mikel Brown Jr. named must-watch freshman for 2025-26 season
Brown was ranked No. 5 on Salerno's rankings. The future Cardinal is ranked as the sixth-best player in the class of 2025 and the No. 1 point guard, per 247Sports. The consensus 5-star recruit averaged 29.6 points at DME Academy in his senior season and showcased his full potential.
"Brown is the highest-ranked player to commit to Louisville in the modern recruiting era. The 6-foot-3 point guard is the second-ranked player at his position in the 2025 recruiting class, and his addition is a monumental win for second-year coach Pat Kelsey.Cameron Salerno
Brown, a McDonald's All-American, should be in line to play a significant role for a Louisville team with national title aspirations. The Cardinals have been busy this offseason making key additions via the transfer portal, but no newcomer on the roster will have a chance to impact the ceiling of this team like Brown will."
The only players listed above Brown in Salerno's rankings are Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, and Darius Acuff Jr. Louisville has the 74th-ranked 2025 freshman class, 3rd-best transfer class, and the 12th-best combined.
Before DME Academy, Brown was a star in the Overtime Elite league, averaging 13.4 points, 5.4 assists, and 2.1 rebounds. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound guard represented Team USA at the FIBA U18 AmeriCup and was a key piece for the Stars and Stripes, starting in every game and averaging 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game.
Brown's strong résumé proves he will be a force to be reckoned with once he arrives at the Cardinals program. The 5-star commit is a player who will make Louisville must-watch TV next season and elevate this program to a National Championship contender.
For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason, stay tuned.