PG JJ Mandaquit of Louisville basketball receives an offer in 2025.

As the basketball coach at the University of Louisville, Pat Kelsey has been in his position for a fortnight.

His attention has been on the here and now, trying to assemble a roster for the upcoming season by searching the transfer site and hiring personnel. However, Kelsey and his team are already beginning to consider the program’s next recruitment efforts as well.

Louisville has offered Utah Prep 2025 point guard JJ Mandaquit a scholarship, as he revealed on social media on Thursday night. Kelsey’s first open offer for a recruit in the high school rankings goes to the 6-foot-1, 190-pound four-star talent.

Mandaquit, a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, played well at Utah Prep in Herriman, Utah, and has a ton of USA Basketball experience. In the ’25 class, he is ranked No. 54 overall by 247Sports, while he comes in at No. 49 in the 247Sports Composite Rankings.

Mandaquit assisted Team USA in winning the gold in the FIBA Americas U16 Championship last summer. He competed for the USA Men’s U16 national team as well.

Aside from Tennessee, Washington State, Hawaii, Utah, Utah State, San Diego State, and Santa Clara, Louisville is the ninth offer on the table for Mandaquit. Among others, Arizona, LSU, and UCLA have expressed interest in him.

Travis Branham, national analyst for 247Sports, referred to Mandaquit as one of the largest stock-risers in the ’25 class early in the high school season.

“I haven’t noticed many significant changes in the 2025 class thus far, but JJ Mandaquit is a guy I believe will improve and, more importantly, see a significant increase in recruitment. Although we now rank him in the approximate Top 50, his recruiting hasn’t lived up to that yet, but it is beginning to after his performances in the Border League and at USA Basketball. He has shown that he is not just a dangerous scorer, especially in ball screens, but also one of the best floor generals in the class. Although Mandaquit’s upside isn’t very spectacular, he keeps demonstrating his dependability and honesty on the field, making him a viable four-year player at the top major.

During Louisville’s spring practice, the emphasis at wide receiver is not so much on determining the depth chart and rotations for the upcoming fall season as it is on encouraging competition and improvement.

The four weeks of spring practice, according to UofL wide receivers coach Garrick McGee, are a chance to improve.

McGee stated, “All we want is to get one day better.” It’s the configuration of our program. I just want to attempt to win the day and get a little bit better today. And that’s it. And we only want to see it like that. We desire that they approach each practice with seriousness.”

Consistent on-field practice and attention to detail in the team meeting room are the keys to improving. Since spring practice started on March 19, McGee has guided the group through positional drills, one-on-one challenges, and game-like circumstances.

By inviting former UofL wide receiver Jamari Thrash to the position group meetings to share his skills and insights, McGee has strengthened the off-field learning. Thrash has been sharing his experiences at the Senior Bowl, NFL Combine, pro day, and other events with the team’s current receiving group in order to prepare for the 2018 NFL Draft.

McGee stated, “Thrash spends a lot of time in the meeting room these days. When he initially returned from the combine, he was able to come in there and tell them what it’s like to be at the combine and the inquiries posed to him.”

Before moving to Louisville, Thrash played four seasons at Georgia State and established himself as a prime example of what it means to obey Jeff Brohm and his staff.