The 2026 NBA Draft is just around the corner. Louisville basketball fans are going to hear a couple of Cardinals' names called for the first time in a long time, as Louisville hasn't had multiple players drafted in the same year since the 2015 NBA Draft, when Terry Rozier and Montrezl Harrell were selected.
Louisville’s Mikel Brown Jr. is climbing NBA Draft boards right before the NBA draft
Now, the Cardinals are likely to have two elite guards represent and be selected in the 2026 NBA Draft, with Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell. The two All-ACC guards played at Louisville for one season, and after each star guard averaged over 18 points, they are trending as a lock to be selected in the draft.
ESPN recently released its latest big board for the 2026 NBA Draft, and the Cardinals' two guards are continuing to see their names on the list. ESPN recently listed Brown's strengths just days before the draft, and the former Cardinal continues to gain momentum leading up to the draft.
Louisville star Mikel Brown Jr. drawing draft buzz for elite offensive upside
The star of the two guards is the 5-star freshman from Orlando. Brown is trending as a top-ten pick in the 2026 NBA Draft and continues to see his name rise before the draft. Brown was trending as a likely No. 8-10 pick in the draft, but after the NBA Combine, the 6-foot-5 point guard was reportedly impressing teams and scouts at his NBA workouts.
Now, Brown has been seen anywhere from the 5th overall pick to the 7th overall pick. And in ESPN's Jeremy Woo's latest big board, Brown continues to get praise for his offensive toolkit.
"Brown has a well-rounded offensive tool kit for a lead guard, with good size and vision in transition and the half court," stated Woo. "His dynamic shotmaking ability from long range also points to major scoring potential as he matures."
This past season at Louisville, the 6-foot-5 guard from Orlando showed multiple times how high his ceiling is. The 5-star freshman set an ACC freshman record with a historic 45-point game, breaking Cooper Flagg's record when the NBA Rookie of the Year dropped 42 points the year before. Brown's 45-point game also tied Louisville's program record for the most points in a single game, and his 10 3's that game tied Reyne Smith's record for the most made 3's in a single game.
Outside of that NC State game, Brown scored 20 points or more in nine of his 20 games, including his 29-point performance against Kentucky, where he led all scorers. Brown was really beginning to click towards the end of the season as he scored 45,29,29,19,24 in his final full five games (not including Clemson, where he was limited).
Brown can shoot well beyond the arc as he has limitless range, and he can catch fire at any point. He averaged 2.6 made 3's per game this past season, and made three or more 3-pointers in 10 games, including six against North Carolina and 10 against North Carolina State.
Brown is trending as a lock in the top 10, which would snap a 29-year drought since Louisville's last Cardinal was selected in the top 10. The NBA Draft is set to start at 8 p.m. local time on Tuesday, June 23.
Also read:Â Latest NBA mock draft has Mikel Brown Jr. ending a 37-year Louisville basketball drought
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