Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr. ranked in eye-catching spot on 2026 NBA Draft big board

Staff Writer
Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr. ranked in eye-catching spot on 2026 NBA Draft big board image

The 2026 NBA Draft has the potential to be one of the best ever.

And one of the players with the most potential among this upside-laden group is Louisville Cardinals point guard Mikel Brown Jr.

One of many freshmen vying to be taken early to the next level, Brown has been given the No. 6 ranking in his draft class by ESPN's Jeremy Woo on his new big board.

The top-six of the list is all freshmen:

  1. Darryn Peterson, Kansas
  2. AJ Dybantsa, BYU
  3. Cameron Boozer, Duke
  4. Nate Ament, Tennessee
  5. Caleb Wilson, UNC
  6. Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville

Of the top-five, Peterson is the only guard, and some teams might view him as a 2.

Brown is clearly a point, explosive as a playmaker and pure as a shooter.

MORE: Arizona State 7-foot-1 frosh Massamba Diop is the biggest sleeper in 2026 NBA Draft

This is Woo's scouting report on the 6-foot-5 guard:

Brown has been trending up over the past year, playing a leading role for Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Cup and establishing himself amongst the top long-term guard prospects in this class. After a 6-inch growth spurt in high school, his size, ability to change speeds and dangerous pull-up shooting has turned him into a difficult cover. Brown's deep range and ability to create for himself and others off screens could make him a potential long-term starter with continued growth.

While he needs to improve his shot selection, physicality and become a more consistent defender to reach that upside, Brown's late-blooming trajectory, speed and potent shot-making are likely strong selling points. As he gains strength and confidence attacking the paint and playing through contact, his game could take off, and scouts are eager to see if he emerges as the leader of what's expected to be a highly competitive Louisville team.

Brown's first test comes Tuesday night when the Cardinals take on Kentucky. Will he run the show even against one of the top teams in college basketball?

If Brown starts to pass tests like that, he'll solidify himself as a top-10, and maybe even top-five, talent in this loaded draft class.

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Editorial Team