We caught up with commit Kaleb Glenn and his mom to get the latest on the future Louisville basketball star.
One of the bright spots of this Louisville basketball off-season is the arrival of highly-touted local prospect, former Louisville Male High School star turned La Lumiere standout Kaleb Glenn.
The 6’6″, 210-pound incoming freshman was a rising name in the class of 2023.
Glenn is a shining example of what happens when you put the work behind the dream. And the more I spoke with him, the more I understood none of it came easy.
Kaleb’s journey
“My elementary school team in 4th grade was my first time playing organized basketball,” Glenn said. ”I went to Coleridge Taylor Elementary. I think we ended up losing in the championship or semifinals that year. But 5th grade we won it all.”
Seemingly a natural winner. Even early on, he had momentum.
“5th grade was really, in my opinion, when he started to get serious about playing well and getting better,” Glenn’s mom, Jacqueline Croom, recounts. “I can remember driving home after a game and he was so mad he didn’t get to score how he wanted to. I remember telling him that ‘you have to practice’. At this point, he used to complain about practice and didn’t want to go. Then shortly after that, we have never had to say ‘Kaleb you have to practice or workout, etc.’ He started writing out his goals, and from then on every year he would hit every goal he set out to accomplish.”
To borrow a phrase from a former Louisville basketball coach, that sounds like an “everyday guy”.
“His 6th-grade year, I would say his main focus was doing post moves and(learning) how to use his body,” said Croom. “He was so big and he had to get used to moving. At this point, Kaleb was super introverted, so I think his coaches probably felt they weren’t getting through to him; he wouldn’t say a word but to us, pretty much. Going into summer, we were approached about him playing AAU with the Kentucky Kings. He started practicing and playing games. It was a great experience.”
This is when things really kicked into high gear for Glenn.
“He was with the Louisville Magic. Ellis (Myles) took him under his wing, and he really flourished with him. I will always give props to Ellis. He was good to Kaleb. They worked all the time on post moves. During this time he was able to see the difference between school ball and playing AAU ball,” Croom said. ”This was also during the time that Kaleb was working relentlessly to dunk. I remember when he got his first one in an AAU game. We went crazy. He wanted it so bad.”
Glenn was 12 when he first dunked. He was laser-focused from then on.
“My 7th-grade summer going into 8th grade, that was when I really started taking basketball seriously,” Glenn said. “After that summer I started to get a little buzz around my name, so it just motivated me. I started playing up for Ballard (high school) shortly after that summer.”
Most people don’t know he suited up as a Bruin before becoming a Bulldog, suiting up for Ballard High School in Louisville his 8th-grade year.”
His journey at Male was impressive from the very start.
“Freshman year, I averaged 13 (points) and 11 (rebounds) while starting every game,” Glenn said. “We went 31-4 and were supposed to go to (KHSAA Sweet Sixteen) but COVID happened. Sophomore year, I averaged 20 and 12 but we only played eleven games due to COVID.”
Still, obstacles in the way did not shake Glenn’s determination.
What’s new with Kaleb
Glenn speaks fondly of Male Basketball Coach Tim Haworth.
“He’s a player’s coach, he knows how to connect with his players well,” Glenn said.
At one point in Glenn’s rise up the recruiting ratings, Louisville came calling.
“Louisville came in to contact my sophomore year, mainly talking to (Chris) Mack. I didn’t want to see him go but I know both the University and Mack did what they had to do. I still keep in touch with (Louisville’s current coaching staff).”
The Grind
Most players try to mimic what they see basketball stars do on television. I asked Glenn about who he models his game after, and one particular name stood out.
“I don’t model my game solely off of one person, but I like to take things from Giannis, Julius Randle, and players similar (to them).”
Randle stands out based on what Louisville Basketball coaching candidate Kenny Payne was able to do with his development.
Make no mistake, however; Glenn has been grinding on his own.
“Body training has helped me a lot in terms of weights and working on agility, speed, and vertical. I also try to get two workouts in a day like 3-4 days out of the week during the season so I can get a lot of reps in,” Glenn said.
Going hard.
“I don’t usually lift to see how much weight I can do, but I can rep 225 (on) bench and I can squat over 300,” he said.
Pretty solid for a high school junior.
Kaleb’s faves and life away from basketball
Pizza- Emmy Squared
Steak- Jay Alexander’s
Wings- Martins BBQ
Burgers- “I’d say my dads, I’m not really a burger guy.”
Louisville players-David Johnson/Victor Glenn
Musical artist-Drake
Movie-Friday
Away from basketball, according to Croom, Glenn should be a player Louisville basketball fans are able to get behind.
“Kaleb away from the court is still, in some way, thinking about the court,” says Croom. “He’s super smart and observant. He’s talkative. Surprise: He’s hungry all time. He’s super motivated. He marches to the beat of his own drum.”
“It’s been amazing to watch.”
Kenny Payne has a loaded 2023 class coming in. Kaleb has been ten toes down for years. His upside is astronomical and his minute share in year one is sneaky high.
*can’t wait GIF*
