Pat Kelsey couldn’t stop smiling Wednesday night.
Louisville basketball’s 83-70 win over North Carolina at the KFC Yum! Center had a lot to do with that. But he and his staff also got to celebrate a victory on the recruiting trail that they’ve been keeping under wraps for weeks.
Mikel Brown Jr., a consensus top-three point guard in the Class of 2025, announced his signing with U of L during a timeout in the first half — receiving a rousing ovation from an announced crowd of 14,248 and well wishes from the likes of Donovan Mitchell and Edgar Sosa.
The 6-foot-3 product of DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Florida, is Kelsey’s first pledge in the cycle and, with a 247Sports Composite rating of 0.9962, became the program’s highest-ranked commit since Samardo Samuels in 2008.
“I had goosebumps,” Kelsey said. “My heart was beating fast. It was really, really cool.
“‘I’ve coached some great, great, great (point guards); and I think Mikel is special,” he later added. “He’s a championship point guard.”
In November, Kelsey said his goal is to develop Louisville into “Point Guard U” — starting with Wisconsin transfer Chucky Hepburn. Now, the torch will be passed to Brown, who on Adidas’ 3SSB circuit this past summer averaged 24.2 points on 49% shooting (43.9% from 3), 3.2 assists against 3.3 turnovers, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 30.2 minutes per game.
All four of the major recruiting services — 247Sports, ESPN, On3 and Rivals — have awarded Brown five stars. He will play games in Louisville at 5:30 p.m. Friday and 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the Grind Session showcase event at Fern Creek High School.
“I’ve watched some highlights,” Hepburn said. “He’s going to be a big-time player. I think he’s going to help turn this program around tremendously. We all have high hopes for him.
“Obviously, the stars don’t matter when you come in; but that type of kid — he’s a program-changer. We’re excited to have him in; we’re excited that he was here tonight to witness this and witness what he could do here at Louisville.”
The Courier Journal caught up with Brown after the game to talk about his decision and more. Here’s what he had to say:
Note: This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
What was this experience like for you?
“It was just surreal. I keep saying it over and over again. (I’m) just grateful to even step foot on that court and to be able to announce it in front of those types of fans. This fan base takes this program seriously. Coach PK turned it around, and I think he’s going to get it back to where it was the previous years. I think it’s going to be better; and I think it’s going to get back to that Louisville basketball that we know it’s been. It was definitely a surreal moment for me and my family.”
How much did it impact your decision to see Chucky Hepburn thriving in Pat Kelsey’s system?
“It was definitely a big impact, watching how he lets Chucky play through mistakes and instills confidence in him. I think Chucky has a whole other level that he can hit and, by the end of the year, (he’s) going to cause some problems. (Kelsey’s) energy is contagious, and Chucky definitely takes advantage of it.
“Chucky’s been through this situation before. I remember watching him at Wisconsin, and he was hooping. But, to come here and play for a coach like PK, his confidence is through the roof right now; and you can see it, clearly, out on the court. That definitely played a big part in my decision to come here.”
What aspects of your game are you focusing on the most during your senior year?
“Just to finish off this high school season strong with my team and hit that next level and, during the offseason, before I step foot on campus, just work my behind off. I’ve got a lot of work to do and a lot of things that I have to learn about. Obviously, the coaching staff is going to be helping me through that as I’m transitioning to playing here next year. I’m definitely going to be prepared.”
Are you ready to see all of the Louisville fans at your team’s games in town this week?
“I’m very excited just to see how big of a crowd comes and watches and supports me while I’m playing. Once we joined the family, like I said — this fan base takes it seriously. So, once you’re in the family and it’s out there, they’re all behind you. I can’t wait to play in front of a crowd like that.”
What is your take on the culture Pat Kelsey is building at Louisville?
“I think they’re ahead of the eight ball in terms of bringing new guys in from the transfer portal and they immediately click. That shows how much PK (and the staff’s) energy is contagious. You can see the players’ trust and belief in PK and what he’s telling them to do. PK’s instilling confidence in this team. Like, ‘Hey, we’re going to keep going; we’re going to keep fighting. We’ve got stuff to work on; but we’re going to keep going.’ You can see that as they play together. It’s definitely an eye-opener for me.”
Reach Louisville men’s basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Mikel Brown Jr: Louisville basketball signee on recruiting, Pat Kelsey
