It was about 45 minutes after University of Louisville basketball coach Pat Kelsey directed his team to victory over North Carolina on Wednesday night.
Kelsey had been spending time with about 25 family members in the back halls of the KFC Yum Center before he walked out near the court where newly signed five-star point guard Mikel Brown was walking off the court with his family. Brown, the second-highest-ranked commitment in U of L history, had just announced his intentions to play for Kelsey next season about an hour and a half earlier during the under-eight timeout in the first half of Louisville’s 83-70 victory.
It was the first time Kelsey had seen Brown since his public announcement.
The first-year U of L coach chatted with Brown and his family and then took him back to meet his family, walking through a curtain and proclaiming to his family “I want you to meet the future of Louisville basketball – Mikel Brown Jr.”
RELATED: Watch: Mikel Brown Jr., makes his commitment to Louisville public
It was the ending of what Kelsey called a “special” and “very cool” night where Louisville basketball felt relevant again. The victory over UNC snapped a five-game losing skid in the series with the Tar Heels and gave U of L back-to-back ACC wins for the first time since before Chris Mack stepped down three years ago this month.
And Brown’s announcement marked a return to recruiting glory for the Cardinals. It was the first five-star signed by Kelsey at Louisville and the biggest recruiting coup in recent memory for a program that trying to make its way back to national relevance.
“Just a special night,” Kelsey said.
Added Brown to Cardinal Authority: “It was just a surreal moment . . . a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
RELATED: Scouting Mikel Brown Jr., and his fit with Louisville
The 6-foot-4 Brown is ranked as the No. 7 overall player in the Class of 2025 and checks in as the No. 2 point guard. He plays for DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Fla., and had more than two dozen scholarship offers before picking the Cardinals.
Brown said he committed to the Cardinals in November and then signed his paperwork, but wanted to keep it a secret until he announced during a game.
Kelsey said it was difficult not to give such big news away.
“I am a pretty good secret keeper,” Kelsey said. “My wife gets so mad, like ‘Why don’t you tell me that stuff?’
“I wanted him to do it. Yes, it’s been hard. I know he had committed and all of that stuff but until it’s out there – I couldn’t wait. I couldn’t wait. It was a big moment. A big moment for him and for his family, for our athletic department, our university, and our basketball program.”
Kelsey called it a “cool thing,” for Brown to be able to walk to center court, have the video playing and then let him meet the crowd as the fans erupted in cheer.
“That was unbelievable and then the reception, the roar, the crowd, and the way they responded when he made his announcement,” Kelsey said. “I had goosebumps and my heart was beating fast. It was really, really cool and I am in the time out and I am trying to act like I am locked into the time out and I am kind of peaking up at the video and stuff like that.
“It was just really cool. Mikel’s family is amazing, his mom and dad, his little sister, and his brother. Just amazing people and he’s a high-character young man. Obviously, he’s uber-talented and we are really fortunate and lucky and excited to have him in a Louisville basketball uniform.”
Kelsey lauded his staff for their efforts in recruiting Brown. U of L assistant coach Thomas Carr took the lead, but Kelsey said what Brown’s father, Chris, confirmed that “it was the whole staff,” that helped pull off the recruiting coup.
“Hours, and hours, and hours, and hours of blood, sweat, and tears goes into recruiting,” Kelsey said. “What do they say, it’s like breathing you do it every day or you die or it’s like shaving, you do it every day or you look like a bum. . . . Our staff just works their butt off.
“They are diligent, they are organized, ridiculous with their network, building relationships, selling our program. So a huge shout out to our staff.”
Brown is the first piece added to next year’s roster in the Class of 2025, and he’s the player Kelsey wants him to help build the narrative that Louisville is the place for top point guards.
“I like the sound of that, Point Guard U.,” Kelsey said. “Chucky has set a pretty good tone. I mean there have been some great ones (at Louisville). There’s one on my staff and we could go all the way down the list. This year’s PG – he’s pretty good.
“I have been blessed to coach some of the best point guards in the world. . . . I have coached some great, great, great ones and I think Mikel is special. He is a special talent and he is a championship point guard for sure, just like Chucky Hepburn.”
