When Louisville landed five-star guard Mikel Brown Jr. , it was the latest indication that the program was heading in the right direction after a disastrous stretch under former coach Kenny Payne. Brown , the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle by 247Sports , marked the school's highest-ranked commitment in the modern era.

Brown had his welcome to college basketball moment during his team's 96-88 win over Kentucky . He finished with a team-high 29 points and dished out five assists in a statement victory over the No. 9-ranked Wildcats. Brown is a projected lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and is the kind of player who can elevate a program back to their glory days.

"You look at Mikel, Mikel is hooping," Louisville coach Pat Kelsey said last week. "You ta

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