Where is Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr. in 2026 NBA Draft projections?

Mikel Brown Jr. produced several memorable moments during his freshman season with Louisville basketball.

Twenty-nine points in the Cardinals' first win over archrival Kentucky since 2020. Forty-five points, tying the program's single-game record, in a Feb. 9 rout of N.C. State.

But the reaction to Brown declaring for the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday made this clear: The 6-foot-5 point guard's time in the 502 will be remembered just as much for the games he didn't play due to a back injury.

Fourteen absences in total — including the final six — during Year 2 of the Pat Kelsey era.

"It just shows that you've got to value time," Brown told The Courier Journal after watching Louisville's loss to Michigan State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament from the bench.

"Time flies; things happen. Things change; things go the way you didn't want (them) to go."

Across 21 games, Brown averaged 18.2 points on 41% shooting (34.4% from 3-point range), 4.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 29 minutes per contest. His nine outings of 20 or more points are the most by a freshman during a single season in Cards history.

For his efforts, Brown became the first UofL player to make ACC's All-Rookie team since Jae'Lyn Withers earned the recognition in 2020-21. He did, however, slip from the preseason all-conference first team to third-team status — due in large part to the back injury causing him to miss 10 regular-season games.

So, where does Brown stand in the latest NBA draft projections? Here's a look:

Mock 2026 NBA Draft: Where is Louisville basketball's Mikel Brown Jr. in projections?

Feb 17, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Louisville Cardinals guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) grabs a rebound in front of SMU Mustangs forward Corey Washington (3) during the second half at Moody Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

In a USA TODAY Sports mock draft published March 26, senior NBA staff writer Bryan Kalbrosky had Brown off the board at No. 10 overall to the Chicago Bulls.

For comparison's sake, the point guard was No. 3 in the first USA TODAY Sports mock draft of the 2025-26 season.

The Bulls, Kalbrosky wrote, "need to simply draft the best player available with whatever pick they have and will likely keep Louisville floor general Mikel Brown Jr. highlighted on their big board. The All-ACC guard has deep shooting range and was among the freshmen leaders in 3-pointers made from beyond 25 feet (27) this year, per CBB Analytics."

Kalbrosky went on to note how Brown's reaggravated back injury kept the freshman out of March Madness and derailed a five-game stretch (Feb. 9-23) that saw him average 29.2 points. But that was the extent of it.

Here's what other experts are saying:

The Athletic: No. 8, Memphis Grizzlies (March 2)

Sam Vecenie: "Brown's best flashes have been those of a top-five pick, and it helps that they're starting to come in bunches late in the year as he gets past his back injury. ... When Brown has it rolling, there may not be a more dynamic ball-screen playmaker in college basketball. He has range out to 30 feet, though his 3-point shooting has regressed to the mean, and his vision as a playmaker for others exceeds everyone in the class when playing in a screen. If there is anyone in this deep draft class who could average nine or 10 assists per game in the NBA, it's Brown."

Bleacher Report: No. 9, Milwaukee Bucks (March 31)

Jonathan Wasserman: "Mikel Brown Jr.'s season ended early, and teams will have to investigate the back injury that has kept him out. Just evaluating his play alone this season, the results were mixed, though he showcased clear NBA type shotmaking and creativity behind the 18.2 points and 4.7 assists per game. The ability to explode for 45 points in a game really highlights his lightning-rod style offense and confidence. But consistency was a problem for Brown. In eight of 21 games, he shot under 35%. Between a shot diet consisting of a lot of rushed deep or contested jump shots, and a poor assist-to-turnover ratio, he may have teams picturing more of offensive spark or specialist, rather than a lead guard/decision-maker."

CBS Sports: No. 8, Atlanta Hawks (March 27)

Adam Finkelstein: "As Atlanta ventures into the post Trae Young era, Brown would give them their lead guard of the future. He is a late-bloomer who is exceptionally talented with the ball in his hands. He's a deep shooter and advanced passer who now boasts good positional size along with improved strength and athleticism. If durability isn't a problem, it's possible he outplays this spot in the draft."

ESPN: No. 8, Memphis Grizzlies (March 11)

Jeremy Woo: "(Brown's injury) has become a situation NBA teams want to learn more about when he completes his medical test at the combine in May. Although he's shooting just 41% from the field this season, scouts feel comfortable with his history and that his dynamic perimeter shot-creation remains a strong attribute. The ups and downs of his season haven't helped his draft profile, though. ... Brown still projects somewhere inside the top 10, with evaluators remaining bullish on his upside as a tall backcourt playmaker."

NBA Draft Room: No. 9, Chicago Bulls (March 31)

Mike — NBA Draft Room: "I feel like Mikel is the most talented point guard in the class, but his injury plagued season and ongoing questions about his back issues might knock him down into the mid-lottery range. If he returns to full health, he could be a devastating scorer at the next level."

Are there any other Louisville basketball players in 2026 NBA Draft projections?

BUFFALO, NEW YORK - MARCH 19: Ryan Conwell #3 of the Louisville Cardinals shoots the ball against the South Florida Bulls during the second half in the first round of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at KeyBank Center on March 19, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

Louisville's top scorer, senior guard Ryan Conwell, cracked Bleacher Report, ESPN and NBA Draft Room's projections as a second-round selection.

"(He) could have enough positional size and shotmaking skill for a shooting specialist role," wrote Wasserman, who had the 6-4 Indianapolis native going to Phoenix Suns at No. 46 overall in Bleacher Report's latest mock draft. "He's been streaky with a green light in a high-powered offense, but over 315 career 3s says enough about how potent he can be."

Conwell averaged 18.8 points on 40.8% shooting and led the ACC with 112 makes from beyond the arc (on 325 attempts, good for a 34.5% clip) in 2025-26. He also chipped in 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals across 30.9 minutes per contest.

Over at ESPN, Woo had Conwell going to the Denver Nuggets at No. 42 overall. NBA Draft Room had him as the 50th overall pick, to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr. in mock 2026 NBA Draft projections