Louisville basketball secured a historic commit this year when Mikel Brown Jr. committed to the Louisville Cardinals in January. Brown is ranked as the No. 6 player in the 2026 class and the No. 1 point guard, and is the second-highest ranked commitment in Louisville basketball history.
Brown currently attends DME Academy, where he put up impressive numbers in his senior year. He averaged over 29 points per game while shooting above 50 percent from the field. The Cardinals secured his commitment over massive SEC programs like Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Kelsey and his staff are thrilled to have Brown lead the show next season, and in a recent interview, Brown appears ready to guide the Cardinals to a National Championship.
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The consensus 5-star commit sat down in an interview with Krysten Peek, and he gave a message to the Cardinals nation that will fire them up.
Mikel Brown Jr. ready to take the wheel for Louisville basketball next season
Brown is currently playing at the Nike Hoop Summit, where the top recruits from the class of 2025 showcase their talents in front of NBA scouts and try to improve their 2026 NBA Draft stock.
The future point guard for head coach Pat Kelsey sat down in an interview, and when he was asked about next season, he provided an answer that will have all of Cardinals nation excited for the next season.
"I am extremely excited," Brown stated about next year's season. "We had a really great year this year, and I think we exceeded all the expectations that were put on us this season. We are only going to keep going so much further, and I can't wait to get on campus and to make a run this year."
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While this is short, it is extremley sweet. Brown is expressing how confident he is in his team and that they will be even better next year, but he also clearly is 100 percent committed to the Cardinals culture as he was extremely involved with last yeas team.
The future Cardinal has expressed how excited he is for this upcoming season multiple times, as the 5-star commit is expected to be one of the best point guards in the nation next year. Brown will join 5-star prospect Adrian Wooley, and two 4-star prospects, Isaac McKneely and Ryan Conwell, all which will make an elite backcourt.
Louisville 5-star commit is not only excited about the upcoming season but has also been vocal about why Louisville and Kelsey were the programs for him. Peek went on to ask why he would choose Louisville over those SEC giants.
"Everybody on that staff is just 100 percent all-in with me, and they kept it real with me and said we want you to have the keys to the car and we need you to drive this thing." Brown stated. "That kind of led into the decision, and the fanbase is right behind them so, our fanbase is different from everybody else."
Louisville commit Mikel Brown Jr. is rooming with Nate Ament (uncommitted) at Nike Hoop Summit this week. He dishes on what his pitch is to Ament to join him next year, why he chose Louisville, playing with so much talent on Team USA and more. pic.twitter.com/cx6m2sDRMA
— Krysten Peek (@krystenpeek) April 12, 2025
Brown's message to the Cardinals fans should have them ready for the 2025-26 season. The future NBA lottery draft pick will steer the wheel next year and try to guide this program to its first National Championship since 2013. Kelsey is becoming one of the best recruiters in the nation, and Brown's commitment proves this.
Kelsey has been able to land elite talent all off-season over SEC giants, and in Brown's interview, the coaching staff, trust, loyalty, and the fans are all glaring reasons why he chose Louisville.