Louisville basketball is in the running for 5-star recruit, Nate Ament, as the Cardinals recently received a massive recruiting update from the McDonalds All-American.
Louisville basketball secured a spot in Nate Ament's final five schools in his recruiting process, and limited his choices to Louisville, Kentucky, Duke, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Ament is a unanimous five-star prospect in the class of 2025, and is expected to be a lottery draft pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The 6-foot-9, and 185 pounds small forward out of Manassas, Va., is the consensus No. 4 overall prospect, and No. 2 shooting guard in his respected class. Cardinals are currently ranked No.9 in the class of 2025, as Louisville was able to land another unanimous 5-star prospect, and McDonald's All-American Mikel Brown Jr.
Earlier this month Brown was interviewed and some of the answers he provided Cardinals fans should send to directly Ament as they are a great pitch to swing Nate Ament to Louisville.
Louisville basketball's 5-star commit makes pivotal pitch to Nate Ament
It is hard for Cardinals fans to not imagine Mikel Brown Jr., and Nate Ament paired up on the court and being one of the best duos in all of college basketball next year.
Brown is ranked eighth overall according to On3 Sports, No. 7 overall , according to 247Sports, and No. 11 in ESPN's 100. Not only was this commitment from the 6-foot-3, 175-pound point guard a huge commit for the program but it also is one of the highest-rated commits to Louisville basketball in their 111-year program.
Well, Mikel Brown Jr. was interviewed briefly this year when he was introduced to Louisville fans by WDRB News, and he gave a great pitch to Nate Ament without even trying.
"We are trying to bring that culture that Louisville had before." Mikel Brown Jr. said. "I can't wait to step foot on campus and try and stride for that and get a national championship."
Something that clearly stood out to Brown Jr. in his recruiting process was Pat Kelsey and the culture he wants Louisville to have. Brown is all about trusting the coaching staff and competing for a national championship and this interview proves that.
When asked why he decided on Louisville, Nate Ament and his team should really listen in, and realize just how special Pat Kelsey is and the program he is building at Louisville.
"Play style and just the environment, and what the type of environment I am going to be stepping into." Brown Jr stated on what stood out to him about Louisville. "Like I said, that energy, and positive energy that PK (Pat Kelsey) and his coaching staff brings is definitely a place that you want to be in and the people you want to surround yourself with."
Kelsey and his team is building a culture and a environment that is second to none in the nation. The Cardinals have had the biggest turnaround in program history this year, and secured the most wins against ACC teams in a single-season in program history.
Brown Jr. wants to be apart of that history, but also to take it to the next level, and teaming up with fellow 5-star recruit and McDonalds All-American Nate Ament is a perfect pitch. The two highly-recruited 2025 players have a chance to not only win a national championship, but to be one of the most dominant duos in Cardinals history.
Pat Kelsey and his team is securing one of the best programs in the nation, and the culture and play style is seems to what stand out to these superstar recruits.
"The play style, and how they play free, and let their guards play free, play through mistakes, and it is just the perfect situation for me in my opinion and my family as well. They are big on family, and that is really the biggest thing for me." Brown stated.
Mikel Brown Jr. ended his interview stating that next year Cardinals fans should expect a high-level, talented guard to play competitive, but at same time to secure that early 2010's Louisville basketball culture.
"I am brining a certain type of competitiveness and toughness to the team next year and I am looking forward to bringing back that culture and using my talents and playmaking, and being a leader, that is what they should expect from me next year, and try and bring this culture back to where it was."
It is evident that Pat Kelsey and his coaching staff not only brought wins back to the program, but they elevated the recruiting process to maybe an all-time high. Mikel Brown Jr. is excited to be a Cardinal, and while this interview was directed to Nate Ament, it is one that should be sent his way to show the unique blend of rich history with their vibrant culture.
Louisville basketball is back on the map, and if Cardinals can land Nate Ament, this program is going to be a dominant force for a long time.