Chris Paul II is getting a first-hand look at the recruiting spotlight he grew up watching from the stands at Peach Jam.
The 2028 four-star guard has gone from spectator to participant at the event, and he knows the moment is real.
"It's been surreal, knowing that I'm really here," Paul said. "I'm directing things and making sure our team is tight at all times. I'm a great leader, a great ball handler, and a great shooter."
Paul, a 6-foot, 160-pound point guard from Campbell Hall (Valley Village, CA), is the son of longtime NBA star Chris Paul. This summer, he helped Team CP3, his father's AAU program, reach the 16U finals at Peach Jam before the run ended with a loss to Team Final.
Even with that defeat, the attention around Paul has only grown. Since the contact period opened on June 15, college coaches have been reaching out in force.
"Obviously, June 15 was a busy day for everybody. It's been cool hearing from coaches, hearing feedback on my game, what I need to work on, and what I need to keep getting better at," he said.
"It's been awesome to hear from coaches I'd watch on Saturdays. It's been awesome."
Louisville was one of the schools to make contact early, and it appears to have left a strong impression. Head coach Pat Kelsey is already familiar to Paul, who said the two have spent time around each other during summer sessions.
"Coach Kelsey is a great guy," Paul said. "I was with him a lot during the summer sessions. Him being there, giving me feedback on what I could do better, is amazing because it's always great to hear from someone with his stature in coaching."
The Cardinals also have something else working in their favor: a track record with point guards. Mikel Brown Jr. keeps coming up in conversations with guard prospects, and Paul sees why.
"Mikel is obviously a star, so it comes with more media attention. Mikel gave more of a pro aspect to the team because Mikel is a pro of the game," Paul said.
"He's very serious and very dominant. Mikel knew what he had to do, so it may have glorified the program a little bit more.
We all respect and see what Mikel does on the court, so we want to do that too."
For now, Paul is still early in the recruiting process, but he’s leaning on the best advice possible: the kind that comes from someone who’s lived it.
"During this recruiting process, he's just said to run your own race. That's probably the most important thing he's said because, now with social media, everybody compares themselves to others," Paul said.
"That comparison is not good for the mind. Run your own race.
If you work hard and keep playing, it's going to come. Just run your own race."
In Other News...
Louisville Suddenly Has A New Recruiting Tease At Point Guard
Tai Bell has quietly become one of the more intriguing names on Louisvilles early point guard board. The 2028 four-star from Miami Columbus is already drawing national attention, with 27 offers and a list of campuses he has seen in person, and he has been in contact with the Cardinals staff as he continues sorting through a fast-moving recruitment. He is ranked No. 28 in his class by 247Sports, but Bell clearly sees room to climb and is treating the process like a long runway rather than a quick decision.
For Louisville, the appeal is obvious: Bell is talented, still early in his high school career, and open enough to keep the Cardinals in the conversation if the relationship keeps growing. He has also pointed to the way Mikel Brown Jr. fit into the program as part of what makes Louisville interesting, which gives the staff a natural selling point as it keeps evaluating whether to push ahead. For now, the next step seems to be more contact and more clarity, with official visits still not on the calendar. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Kelsey Is Making Louisville A Real Threat For Elite Forward
Moussa Kamissoko has already become one of the more intriguing names in the 2027 class, and Louisville is right in the middle of the chase. The highly ranked forward has drawn interest from several major programs, but Pat Kelsey and the Cardinals have kept themselves firmly in the conversation as they try to sell a style and vision that can resonate with elite talent.
Kamissoko has talked openly about his ongoing communication with Kelsey and his interest in how Louisville plays, which gives the Cardinals a real foothold in a crowded recruiting race. With top programs circling and visits still a topic to watch, the next step in the process could go a long way toward showing whether Louisville is simply involved or truly emerging as a serious threat here. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Kelsey Just Sent Another Big Recruiting Signal At Louisville
Pat Kelseys staff keeps showing it is willing to get in early and stay aggressive on the trail, and the latest example came with a scholarship offer to one of the top wings in the 2027 class. The move fits the broader push around Louisville basketball right now, with the Cardinals working to build real momentum with elite prospects before the cycle gets crowded and the national heavyweights fully settle in.
The recruiting board is already taking shape around several high-end targets, and this latest offer only adds to the sense that Louisville wants to be in the mix for a class with real upside. Asa Montgomerys profile has drawn plenty of attention nationally, and the Cardinals are also chasing other premier names such as Darius Wabbington and DeMarcus Henry as Kelsey continues to signal that the program plans to recruit at a much higher level. [Read more 🡒]