Mikel Brown Jr. recently won his second gold medal for Team USA before he even played a minute of college basketball. Louisville basketball's incoming freshman is one of the best commitments in program history, and his potential is skyrocketing as the 2025-26 season approaches.
The 5-star phenom led Team USA in points, assists, efficiency, and made 3-pointers while winning the gold medal in Switzerland. He displayed his true athleticism while playing his style of game. Brown was the leader on the floor and would take over the game, scoring at will, while also switching gears and becoming a much-needed playmaker for the team.
However, what has caught the fans' eyes this offseason has nothing to do with his gold medal run, but rather the drastic difference in his physique from six months ago to now.
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Mikel Brown Jr.'s massive update is crucial for Louisville basketball
Brown comes into Louisville as the second-highest commitment in program history. He ranks as high as No. 6 in the 2026 cycle, the No. 1 point guard, and has a 247Sports rating of .9969.
Experts and fans had only one negative thing to say about Brown, and it was that he was undersized and a bit small in high school. Well, the 5-star phenom had a growth spurt this offseason, now standing at 6-foot-5, and has added a significant amount of muscle. He is no longer undersized and is now tomahawking over 7-footers this offseason, splashing deep 3-pointers, and is a walking nightmare for the entire nation.
Entering this offseason and summer workouts, it was reported Brown was around 6-foot-3 and 170 pounds. However, according to the Louisville Cardinals basketball website, he has reportedly grown two inches and is now 6-foot-5, with added muscle, weighing 180 pounds.
6 month difference of @MikelBrownJr1. He’s been putting in work and he’s not slowing down. #PG1
— Mikel Brown Jr. Enthusiast (@MBJr_Enthusiast) July 9, 2025
Left: December, Right: July pic.twitter.com/7Da3X6oTTv
The 10 pounds of muscle the point guard put on will make him that much better of a player, as now he can finish through contact, play physical basketball, and become a solid defender. Brown has the skills to be the best freshman player in college basketball next season, but after the change in his physique, he can be one of the best players in college basketball.
The difference between Brown six months ago and now is incredible. The Cardinals' incoming guard generated a lot of hype before the summer, but now, after he added much-needed muscle, it's clear the nation is becoming aware of what Louisville is getting. With Team USA, he showcased his ability to create space with speed and physicality, while also shooting at such a high rate, proving he has a chance to become an unstoppable monster to Louisville's opponents.
Brown, as of right now, is a projected top-five pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and if he wants that to become true, putting on muscle was crucial not only for his NBA dreams but also for Louisville's dreams.
The 5-star guard has exceptionally high expectations in his lone season with the Cardinals. Many fans are hoping he can bring what the fans have been craving since Donovan Mitchell, and not only bring the program's first NCAA Tournament win since 2017, but hang the program's first banner since 2013.
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For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.