LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Two days after revealing his signing with Louisville men's basketball at center court of the KFC Yum! Center, five-star point guard Mikel Brown Jr. showed off some of his skills in front of Cardinal fans at Fern Creek High School.
The first major high school recruit of Pat Kelsey's tenure with the Cards dropped 25 points as Brown's school in DME Academy, which is out of Florida, beat another Florida school in West Oaks Academy 73-63. The game was played as part of an international prep circuit called the Grind Session.
He noticed some red in the crowd and took pictures with Cardinal fans following the victory.
"It was fun, very fun," Brown said of playing in front of Louisville fans. "Even before the game, just seeing the crowd, it's a whole bunch of red in there. And that's why I love this fan base. That's why I love this community. So, I can't wait to step on campus next year.'
Kelsey encouraged fans to get out to Fern Creek to watch Brown Friday night as well as Saturday at 3 p.m., when Brown and his school play again. The Cardinals are on the road at Virginia Saturday and hoping to move to 3-1 in ACC play.
"This fan base is just truly amazing," Brown said. "They take it seriously and this program seriously. That's why I'm all bought in."
You could see the intensity on display between the Florida academies and Brown wanted to show fans his competitive edge. The two schools traded plenty of words as Brown went on to earn Player of the Game honors, adding three assists to his scoring output.
"I showed them the grit, the competitiveness and the toughness that I have and bring to my high school team," Brown said. "And obviously, all of the guys competed today."
Those were traits he noticed in two all-time Cardinal greats: current Louisville assistant Peyton Siva and Siva's former UofL backcourt mate in Russ Smith. He remembers watching the two win the 2013 national championship against Michigan.
"They were just fiery and gritty," Brown said. "Their tenacity, they're just dogs. Watching them compete and win that national championship, it was great."
Plenty of past Louisville greats have shared their excitement to see Brown become a Cardinal. Five-time NBA All-Star and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell even posted a picture of himself wearing a Brown jersey to welcome him to Louisville.
"It was surreal," Brown said of that from Mitchell and the words other former Cardinals shared in a video at the Yum! Center on Wednesday night. "It kind of surprised me, how they went down the line of greats that came through the city. Just watching them and them giving a shoutout to me for coming, and to try to imprint my legacy into the city, I already have love for the city. And I can tell the city loves me back."
The five-star guard earned Player of the Game honors as DME Academy (Florida) beat West Oaks Academy (Florida) in the Grind Session prep circuit game at Fern Creek High School.
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