The 2026 NBA Draft is just hours away, as the draft is set to start this evening at 8 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN. Louisville basketball fans will be tuning in to watch a Cardinal drafted tonight, as Mikel Brown Jr. is not just a first-round lock but a top ten lock.
NBA executives hint Mikel Brown Jr. might snap a 37-year Louisville drought
The former 5-star is trending as a top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and as the draft is quickly approaching this evening, Brown continues to get good news. ESPN recently released one of its final mock drafts before the 2026 NBA Draft, and the star point guard saw a slight rise in his draft stock.
Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr. rises again in ESPN's NBA mock draft
Brown continues to slowly rise in ESPN's NBA mock drafts, as the former 5-star point guard was originally projected as the No. 9 overall pick to the Dallas Mavericks, then rose to the No. 7 overall pick to the Sacramento Kings, and now, in Jeremy Woo's latest mock draft Brown just moved up one more spot and is projected to go No. 6 overall to the Brooklyn Nets.
"Brown seems to have gathered momentum on the workout circuit, and Brooklyn has shown interest, with Nets executives visiting him in Orlando as well as bringing him in for a workout. His size and well-rounded skill set give him an argument as the ball handler with the highest offensive upside in this second tier of prospects. Teams say he has been impressive in workouts, displaying the deep shooting range and footwork that give him star potential, and helping to assuage concerns around his inconsistent freshman season. He opted not to visit Sacramento, which holds the No. 7 pick, late in the process, which suggests he feels good about his other options."Jeremy Woo
Brown has now moved up three spots in ESPN's mock drafts since May, and with the draft just hours away, it appears Brown is trending toward a potential top-six pick in the NBA draft. He has reportedly impressed many NBA teams with his workouts since the NBA Combine, which has been the main reason for his recent rise.
Brown has also worked out with the No. 5 overall pick, the Los Angeles Clippers, and some mock drafts project the former Cardinal to go No. 5 overall. In a recent survey with 10 NBA executives, they voted on who was the best point guard in this year's draft, and Brown earned the most first-place votes out of the poll.
So, the Cardinals' former 5-star freshman has a real chance to be a top five pick in this year's draft, and if he is, he would be the first Cardinal drafted in the top five since Pervis Ellison in 1989. If Woo is correct and he goes No. 6 overall to the Nets, then he would be the first Cardinal drafted in the top six since Felton Spencer in the 1990 draft.
So, it is an exciting time for Brown and the Cardinals fans who are following his draft process. The former Cardinal will snap a Louisville draft drought this evening, and as the draft quickly approaches, he appears to continue to see his stock rise.
Also read: Pat Kelsey gives NBA teams a reason to think twice about passing on Mikel Brown Jr.
For all the latest news and updates on Louisville basketball's offseason and recruiting, stay tuned.
Add us as a preferred source on Google