Louisville basketball players who are already turning heads on 2026 NBA Draft boards

Louisville basketball's 2025-26 roster is one of the best rosters from top to bottom. Pat Kelsey aced the offseason and brought in multiple players who have incredibly high ceilings, including at the NBA level.

While the Cardinals fans can't wait for the 2025-26 season to start, many of Kelsey's newcomers are already generating buzz for the NBA Draft. Louisville should have many players drafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, including a top 10 pick.

So, as Cardinals nation waits for their season to tip off, we are going to fast-forward and predict five Cardinals who could turn heads on 2026 NBA Draft boards.

Louisville basketball players who are already turning heads on 2026 NBA Draft boards

4. Khani Rooths

The true sophomore has the frame and size to be a future star in college basketball and the NBA once he gets the opportunity to. Khani Rooths was the highest-rated commitment for Louisville in a long time as the unanimous 4-star recruit was ranked as high as No. 34 in the 2024 recruiting class.

Now, after averaging just 3.3 points and 3.0 rebounds in 35 games last season, Rooths enters his sophomore season with high expectations. The 6-foot-10 205 205-pound forward comes into the season as NBA Draft Room's No. 200 prospect. While he falls on the outside looking in, this only proves that the sophomore has the skill and talent to be a star for Kelsey and the Cardinals. He most likely won't get drafted in 2026, but once he emerges as Kelsey's true starter in his junior season, expect Rooths' name to hit the draft boards in 2027.

3. Adrian Wooley

Kennesaw State transfer Adrian Wooley proved last season that he has the skills to dominate at the collegiate level and has the potential to be a rising star in the NBA. The true sophomore went on to win Freshman of the Year in the C-USA conference and earned First-Team All-C-USA honors.

SB Nation has Wooley ranked as high as No. 22 for the 2026 NBA Draft. The sophomore guard is expected to be part of Louisville's dominant backcourt after he averaged 18.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Wooley splashed over 70 3-pointers on 42.2 percent. The 5-star transfer can drive to the rim, finish through contact, but can also space out the floor and create his own shot off the dribble. Wooley has the potential to be a one-and-done star for Louisville, but it might be best for him to play his junior season as well and be a possible NBA lottery pick.

2. Ryan Conwell

Ryan Conwell was one of the biggest names in the Transfer Portal, and Kelsey made a massive splash with the Xavier transfer. The 6-foot-4 guard will play multiple positions for Kelsey and will be one of the most dominant players in the ACC.

After averaging 16.5 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, the All-Big East guard is ranked as ESPN's No. 52 prospect for the 2026 NBA Draft. Conwell splashed 99 3-pointers while shooting 41.3 percent from beyond the arc last year, and with the roster he is playing with this year, the elite guard can skyrocket his NBA Draft stock.

1. Mikel Brown Jr.

And of course, the 5-star point guard from Orlando, Florida, Mikel Brown Jr has the most NBA Draft stock for the 2026 NBA Draft. The true freshman is a projected top 10 pick in every 2026 mock draft and has been projected as high as the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft by CBS Sports.

Brown committed to Louisville as the second-highest commit in program history, as he ranks as the No. 6 prospect in the 2025 recruiting class and the No. 1 point guard after being a semifinalist for the Naismith Trophy Boys High School Player of the Year. Brown dominated his senior season as he averaged 29.6 points per game, and carried that into the summer, where he was robbed of the FIBA U19 MVP award after leading Team USA in points, assists, efficiency, and 3-pointers made.

Brown is projected to be the highest Louisville Cardinal drafted in the NBA Draft since Pervis Ellison was selected first overall in the 1989 NBA Draft.

For all the latest on Louisville basketball's offseason, stay tuned.