"I am a pretty good secret keeper": Pat Kelsey expressed excitement over landing 5-star PG Mikel Brown Jr. following win over North Carolina

Pat Kelsey, the head coach of Louisville Cardinals, was enthusiastic about a new development for the team. On Wednesday, Louisville triumphed over North Carolina (83-70) in a competitive ACC match. Chucky Hepburn led all scorers with 26 points in the victory.

But this was not the only win Louisville celebrated. Off the court, the team celebrated another significant victory by announcing five-star point guard Mikel Brown Jr.’s commitment to Louisville. Brown is among the top 10 prospects in the Class of 2025. Moreover, he is ranked first among the point guards.

Brown showcased his talent on the Adidas 3SSB circuit last spring and summer, averaging 24.2 points and 3.3 assists per game. He also started all six games for Team USA at the FIBA U18 Americas tournament and helped secure a gold medal.

Brown committed to the team in November. However, the announcement was impending. He revealed his decision during a timeout of the match against North Carolina through a video on the video board. An in-person appearance on the court followed the video. The fans were thrilled by the announcement, and so was coach Pat Kelsey.

"I am a pretty good secret keeper," Kelsey told Sports Illustrated regarding keeping the commitment hidden.

The announcement and reception also incited an endearing excitement in the head coach. After the match, he expressed how he felt during the announcement.

"What a cool thing. That was unbelievable. Then the reception, the roar, the crowd, the way they responded when he made his announcement, I had goosebumps. My heart was beating fast." Kelsey said.

"It was really, really cool. I'm in the time out, I'm sitting there, and I'm trying to act like I'm really locked in the timeout, and I'm kind of peeking up at the video and stuff like that. It was really cool," the coach added.

Coach Pat Kelsey believes that Mikel Brown Jr. is "special"

Mikel Brown Jr. received offers from programs like Alabama, Ole Miss, Texas, Indiana and UCF. He told ESPN that the energy of the program, the family environment, Kelsey's staff’s dedication and loyalty were important factors in his decision.

In the post-match interview, Pat Kelsey also explained why he believes Brown is an excellent choice for the team,

"I've coached some great, great, great ones, and I think Mikel is special. He's a special talent, and he's a championship point guard, just like Chucky Hepburn is. I think that was probably a big part of Mikel's decision." Kelsey said.

"I think our system is a fun system to play in, and Chucky has absolutely thrived, and I'm sure Mikel l sees that same thing."

Fans would love to know how things work out for the Cardinals when Kelsey and Brown start working together. Will the duo live up to the hype? Let us know your thoughts.