The NBA Draft is officially under a week away, and Louisville basketball's first-round drought is about to end. The Cardinals haven't had a player selected in the first round since Donovan Mitchell in the 2017 NBA Draft, and Mikel Brown Jr. is looking like a lock for not just a first-round pick but a top-ten pick.
ESPN analyst reveals Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr. gaining serious momentum ahead of NBA Draft
The former 5-star point guard in the 2025 recruiting class is coming off an All-ACC year, and now, despite missing 14 games this past season with Louisville, the 6-foot-5 point guard is looking like one of the top prospects in the draft. Everyone knows who the first four picks are going to be, but the next six are where things get interesting.
ESPN recently released its latest mock draft, and Brown continues to gain momentum entering the draft.
Mikel Brown Jr. earns high praise from ESPN days before NBA Draft
Earlier this year, Brown was trending as the No.9 pick to the Dallas Mavericks. It looked like the former 5-star was going to go to the Hawks at No. 8, the Mavs at No. 9, or the Bucks at No. 10. However, after the NBA Combine, it is being reported that Brown is crushing his NBA workouts, which is making him one of the top offensive prospects and rising in these mock drafts.
"Brown appears to be on solid footing going into next week and has had a positive predraft process, putting himself in play above this slot with the Clippers and Nets, and with interest all over the top 10. His size and well-rounded skill set gives 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."Jeremy Woo
Right now, ESPN's Jeremy Woo has Brown going to the Kings with the No. 7 overall pick, but he reports the Clippers with the No. 5 pick and the Nets with the No. 6 pick are also showing interest. Brown is coming off a season where he averaged 18.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
The 6-foot-5 guard is being compared to LaMelo Ball and Jamal Murray for his ability to take over the game on the offensive end. Brown had multiple games this past season with Louisville in which he caught fire from beyond the arc, including his historic 45-point game against North Carolina State, when he splashed 10 3s.
He is also a playmaker on the floor who can soar through the air and finish through contact, and can make the right play and get his teammates open, as he is extremely unselfish.
He is in a battle with four other point guards in this NBA Draft as Darius Acuff Jr, Keaton Wagler, and Kingston Flemings will likely all go between No. 5 and No. 9. So, ESPN reporting Brown is showing off his limitless range and footwork in these NBA workouts and making a strong case to be the best offensive prospect among these point guards is a good sign for Brown leading up to the NBA Draft.
Also read: Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. is climbing NBA Draft boards right before the NBA draft
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