Louisville basketball's 5-star phenom Mikel Brown Jr. is currently dominating the 2025 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup and just led Team USA to sweep the Group Stage. Team USA earned three wins all by 15 points or more, including today's dominant performance over Cameroon, 129-70.
The MVP so far? Mikel Brown Jr., Pat Kelsey's incoming freshman, has been blowing up all over social media this week as he averaged 19.3 points and 6.3 assists while shooting an impressive 54 percent from the field and 56 percent from beyond the arc.
Brown has been showcasing his elite skills all over the court on both ends of the floor and is now appearing to be a lock for a top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. While the whole world is witnessing how special Brown is, it is safe to say the ACC is already shivering with fear.
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Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr. is putting the world on notice and the ACC is shivering
Brown is setting the world on fire right now with his performances in Switzerland for Team USA, as the Cardinals' superstar is giving the ACC a quick preview of what is to come. The Cardinals are given the second-best odds to win the ACC as of now, but after Louisville's 5-star performances over the past couple of days, Cardinals fans are confident that he can guide this team to the program's first ACC Title.
Brown is emerging not only as the best freshman in the nation but also as one of the best college basketball players in the nation. Brown is outshining everyone else on Team USA right now, and although it's just the U19 team, it's clear this kid is special.
Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. isn’t just looking like he’ll be coming in as one of the best freshman in the country — but looking like he will be one of the best players in college basketball next year.
— Samad Hines (@Samad_Hines) July 1, 2025
19.3 PPG (54% FG, 56% 3PT) and 6.3 APG (3 games) at the U19 FIBA WC so far.
6-foot-3, 165-pound guard is showing tremendous twitch, awareness, court vision, and ability to shoot. Brown has been able to weave his way through the paint, finishing through contact or penetrating the defense to break it down and attack the weak area, then finding either a cutting player for a lob or a shooter in the corner.
He has scored 24 points in consecutive outings, and in the most recent one against Cameroon, he achieved this feat in just 20 minutes. In the Group stage, he shot 20-37 from the field and 13-23 from beyond the arc, leading Team USA in points and assists per game.
The Cardinals are poised to be a significant threat to the Duke Blue Devils, as they will have some of the best shooters to play alongside Brown, making it nearly impossible to guard this offense. Louisville's offense is poised to break out next season and emerge as one of the best in the country.
If Brown can play similar to how he is right now, then the ACC must look out because the Louisville Cardinals are eyeing that crown.
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For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.