Mikel Brown Jr. bore a sheepish grin that morphed into a chuckle Tuesday when reminded of a play he made earlier at training camp.

Brown is one of 18 contenders vying for 12 spots on the 2025 USA Basketball Men’s U19 National Team, and a play earlier this week surely helped his case.

The 5-star recruit, who will head to the University of Louisville in the fall, drove to the hoop and a sea of blue jerseys awaited Brown. But the 6-foot-2 guard displayed the athleticism that earned him a spot in the final 18.

Brown elevated, cocked back his left hand and flushed a dunk that earned a serenade of cheers at the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center this past Sunday. The victim of the poster: incoming University of Kentucky freshman and 4-star recruit Malachi Moreno, a 6-11 center.

“That was my roommate at the time,” Brown said. “The paint was open at the time, so I turned the corner off the ball screen and the big stayed with him. Malachi stayed with his man. He jumped a little late, and I got him.”

To illustrate that the Cardinals-Wildcats intrastate rivalry is on hiatus, Brown defended his U19 teammate.

“It happens,” Brown said. “Malachi did what he’s supposed to do. He’s supposed to try to go block everything at the rim.”

Following their practice Sunday, University of Alabama and Team USA court coach Nate Oats said he enjoyed the competitive nature of the players, especially from those battling for a guard spot.

“All of these guards are out there competing hard,” Oats said. “Everyone is doing a good job of pressuring the ball and pushing each other.”

Brown showcased that latter statement with another Wildcats player as Jasper Johnson, who remains on the current 18-player roster, also battles for one of the final 12 slots.

Johnson, a 6-4, 4-star shooting guard out of Lexington, Ky., ran several drills alongside Brown during Tuesday’s session and both played for Team Blue during scrimmages.

After Brown sank a 3-pointer during one of the scrimmages, Johnson rose from his seat to applaud the made bucket. Later, Brown returned the favor after Johnson’s assist led to a dunk for their teammate.

“Me and Jasper have known each other for a couple of years,” Brown said. “To be able to go to war with him is great and when we get to our respective teams, it’s war.”

For now, it’s peace as Johnson and Brown wait to learn who will earn the final 12 roster spots and represent the United States at the 2025 FIBA U19 Men’s World Cup in Switzerland from June 28-July 6. A decision on those spots will be made later this week.

“I don’t take this opportunity for granted,” Brown said. “To be able to represent your country and continue the legacy that the greats before us have built is an honor. This would mean a lot for everybody who makes the team.”