The 2025 NBA draft concluded on Thursday night, and while no Louisville Cardinals were selected over the past couple of nights, it appears that they will have one selected in next year's draft.
Chucky Hepburn was signed to a two-way deal with the Toronto Raptors, and then Terrence Edwards Jr. and Reyne Smith were selcted to join two NBA teams at the Summer League as Edwards will play for the Milwaukee Bucks and Smith will play for the Denver Nuggets.
However, looking ahead to next summer, it appears that the Cardinals will be without their 5-star point guard, Mikel Brown Jr., as ESPN has just released its way-too-early 2026 NBA mock draft. The incoming Cardinal is projected to be not only a top 10 pick, but a top five pick.
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ESPN gives Louisville basketball crushing Mikel Brown Jr. news ahead of next season
While this comes as no surprise, given Brown's upward trend in NBA mock drafts, some fans had hoped he might return for his sophomore season. However, in the latest polls and after listening to more experts who have been watching the 5-star phenom, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Cardinals are likely to acquire Brown for just one season.
ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo released their way-too-early NBA mock draft for 2026, and Brown was selected No. 5 to the Sacramento Kings.
"Growing from 5-10 to 6-4 over his high school career, Brown has shown dynamic scoring instincts and talent as a ball handler, passer and outside shooter.Jonathan Givony
Brown, who is 176 pounds, is inconsistent as a finisher, defender and decision-maker, but his ability to handle the physicality of the college game on both ends of the floor will play a significant role in his productivity as a freshman at Louisville."
It is a bittersweet taste, because it is always a proud and exciting feeling to see a player drafted in the NBA, but the Cardinals now know that they must accomplish their dreams this season, as this will be the program's best chance at the National Title in a long time.
The Cardinals have not won a game in the NCAA Tournament since Donovan Mitchell was part of the team in 2017. Cardinals fans are hopeful that Brown will guide this team to not only a win in March but the program's first National Championship since 2013.
Of course, this is just a mock draft, and Brown has not actually declared for the NBA Draft yet, but his projection as a top-five pick makes it clear that the incoming superstar will most likely be a one-and-done player.
Brown was the second point guard selected in this mock draft, as they predicted Kansas' Darryn Peterson to go No. 1 overall. Rounding out the top five in order it went, A.J. Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Nate Ament, and then Brown.
This crushing news might be hard to accept at this point as it is only June, and Brown hasn't even played a game, but it appears Louisville will have to get ahead of the curve and go all-in on players like Tay Kinney and Derron Rippey Jr. in the 2026 cycle to replace Brown once he leaves.
On3 Sports currently favors the Cardinals to land both 5-star point guards and No. 1 overall recruit in 2026, Tyran Stokes.
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For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.