Mikel Brown Jr. Declares for 2026 NBA Draft

Mikel Brown Jr. announced he will enter the 2026 NBA draft after one season at Louisville, where he averaged 18.2 points, 4.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 21 games while battling a recurring lower back injury that cost him 14 contests. Bleacher Report projects him at No. 8, but scouts "will have to investigate" the medicals and balance his high-scoring nights, including a 45-point game, against stretches where he was held under 10 points. Merlin sees a young scorer with clear NBA shotmaking and creative flashes, yet uneven decision making. As teams weigh his upside versus the back issue and a shot-heavy profile that "may have teams picturing more of offensive spark or specialist," medicals and pre-draft workouts will decide how high he climbs.