Brooklyn Nets rookie Mikel Brown Jr. is launching a mentorship program for students at a local middle school. Brown has partnered with the El Puente Beacon Leadership Center at M.S. 50 to launch Mikel’s Crew, an ongoing mentorship program with the center’s 75 middle school students.
The El Puente Beacon Leadership Center at M.S. 50 is a free program available to all students at the Williamsburg middle school. It offers leadership programs focused on academics, art and athletics after school and throughout the summer.
“I’m thrilled to partner with the El Puente Beacon Leadership Center and can’t wait to make meaningful connections with the students this year,” Brown said. “I’m from a half African American, half Puerto Rican household and see myself in these kids. I know firsthand how important mentors can be in someone’s life and want to do all that I can to encourage the group to chase their dreams just like I am.”
Mikel's Crew will begin with a Brooklyn Basketball clinic for M.S. 50's students during El Puente’s annual Thanksgiving Potluck event. The event will be held at M.S. 50 during Puerto Rican Heritage Month on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 5:30 p.m. Approximately 300 community members will come together to connect through food, music, and this year, basketball.
Brown will join Brooklyn Basketball coaches and help lead the youth present at the event through a clinic focused on basketball skills and teamwork.
Mikel Brown Jr. partners with local middle school to launch mentorship program
Brown will remain involved with the students at M.S. 50 throughout his rookie season with the Nets. The 20-year-old hopes to foster an ongoing connection with the leadership center's cohort, who are primarily of Puerto Rican, Dominican and African American descent. Brown became the third player of Puerto Rican descent to be drafted in the top 10 of the NBA Draft when the Nets selected him with the sixth overall pick in 2026.
Brown, who wore a draft-night suit with the Puerto Rican flag on the inside, spoke about the importance of his heritage after the Nets selected him.
Article Continues Below“It means the world to me,” Brown said. “You know, coming from the Puerto Rican tradition, that side of the family is hard-working. My grandpa worked for 22 years in the army. So he's very disciplined about his stuff, and he does everything with a purpose. I try to take that away from him and represent it to the best of my abilities.”
Brown also spoke about what it means to represent Brooklyn as the Nets' highest draft pick since moving to the borough.
“I think it's just the past legends that come from this city. They take pride [in it],” Brown said. “And the people, when you hear somebody say they're from Brooklyn, they take pride in it. To be able to represent that and come in and kind of have the same mentality where it's not just about you. It means the world.”
Brown immediately stepped into a leadership role with the Nets this season as one of the team's two featured point guards. The No. 6 pick has averaged 12.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 23.1 minutes per game across his first seven NBA appearances. He's one of four rookies averaging over 12.0 points and 3.5 assists, alongside Utah Jazz guard Darryn Peterson, Sacramento Kings guard Darius Acuff Jr. and Memphis Grizzlies forward Cam Boozer.