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The NBA draft is set for June 23-24, and Louisville basketball is soon to record a new first in its program's history.
Mikel Brown Jr. is projected to go in the top 10 according to a wide variety of mock drafts, perhaps with an outside chance to land in the top five. USA TODAY's most recent projections have Brown going sixth overall to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Cardinals guard dealt with a back injury that caused him to miss 14 games in 2025-26, but he averaged 18.2 points, a team-high 4.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals when he was available. Despite sitting out for a portion of the season, Brown was named to the ACC All-Rookie Team.
Coming out of high school, Brown was a five-star McDonald's All-American and one of the top recruits in the nation. From the date he committed to Louisville — Jan. 1, 2025 — he was expected to make history as the Cardinals' first one-and-done player. Despite some setbacks during his freshman season, he achieved exactly that.
As the program awaits another new milestone at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, here is a look at some other history Louisville basketball has made in the NBA draft.
The most recent Louisville player selected in the NBA draft was David Johnson in 2021. The former Cardinals guard was taken 47th overall in the second round by the Toronto Raptors.
Johnson appeared in two games for the Raptors during the 2021-22 season and also was assigned to play for Raptors 905 in the G League, where he spent two seasons before playing with the Memphis Hustle from 2023-25. Johnson currently plays in New Zealand's NBL for the Tasmania JackJumpers.
The last time two Louisville players were selected in the same NBA draft was 2015. Terry Rozier was taken 16th overall by the Boston Celtics, and Montrezl Harrell was selected 32nd overall by the Houston Rockets.
Rozier spent time with the Celtics from 2015-19. He was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in July 2019, then acquired by the Miami Heat in January 2024. Rozier did not play during the 2025-26 season while being investigated by federal authorities in connection with a sports betting scandal. His best season occurred when he played for Charlotte in 2023 and averaged 23.2 points per game.
Harrell played in the league from 2015-23, appearing for a variety of squads, including the Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers. His best season came when he played for the Lakers, when he averaged 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game during the 2019-20 season.
Harrell currently plays for Atléticos de San Germán in Puerto Rico.
Louisville has a chance to have two players drafted again this year. Alongside Brown is Ryan Conwell, who has been projected to be selected in the second round anywhere from 34th to the Sacramento Kings to 46th by the Orlando Magic.
Conwell averaged 18.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game during his senior season with the Cardinals. The Indianapolis native was a member of the All-ACC Second Team.
The highest a Louisville player has been selected is No. 1 overall. Pervis Ellison was taken with the first pick in the 1989 draft by the Sacramento Kings.
Ellison played in the league from 1989-2000. He was named the NBA's Most Improved Player in 1992, which was his best season playing professional basketball. Ellison averaged 20 points and 11.2 rebounds per game with the Washington Bullets.
Louisville has had 77 total players drafted to the NBA, making it one of just 10 programs with at least 70 draft picks.
The first-ever player to be drafted from the program was Jack Knopf in 1947 to the St. Louis Bombers with the 17th pick.
The Cardinals have produced 18 NBA players over the past decade. The most notable is Donovan Mitchell, who was selected 13th overall in 2013, landing with the Utah Jazz after a draft-night trade with the Denver Nuggets. Mitchell is currently an All-NBA standout for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Some other notable names to be drafted out of Louisville are Wes Unseld, Darrell Griffith, Charlie Tyra, LaBradford Smith, Butch Beard and Rodney McCray.
Reach sports trending writer Alaina Morris at [email protected] and follow her on X at @alainammorris.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: NBA Draft 2026, Mikel Brown Jr. to make Louisville basketball history
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Mikel Brown Jr. is projected to go in the top 10 according to a wide variety of mock drafts, perhaps with an outside chance to land in the top five. USA TODAY's most recent projections have Brown going sixth overall to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Cardinals guard dealt with a back injury that caused him to miss 14 games in 2025-26, but he averaged 18.2 points, a team-high 4.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals when he was available. Despite sitting out for a portion of the season, Brown was named to the ACC All-Rookie Team.
Coming out of high school, Brown was a five-star McDonald's All-American and one of the top recruits in the nation. From the date he committed to Louisville — Jan. 1, 2025 — he was expected to make history as the Cardinals' first one-and-done player. Despite some setbacks during his freshman season, he achieved exactly that.
As the program awaits another new milestone at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, here is a look at some other history Louisville basketball has made in the NBA draft.
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Who was the last Louisville player to be drafted?
The most recent Louisville player selected in the NBA draft was David Johnson in 2021. The former Cardinals guard was taken 47th overall in the second round by the Toronto Raptors.
Johnson appeared in two games for the Raptors during the 2021-22 season and also was assigned to play for Raptors 905 in the G League, where he spent two seasons before playing with the Memphis Hustle from 2023-25. Johnson currently plays in New Zealand's NBL for the Tasmania JackJumpers.
When was the last time Louisville had two players selected in one draft?
The last time two Louisville players were selected in the same NBA draft was 2015. Terry Rozier was taken 16th overall by the Boston Celtics, and Montrezl Harrell was selected 32nd overall by the Houston Rockets.
Rozier spent time with the Celtics from 2015-19. He was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in July 2019, then acquired by the Miami Heat in January 2024. Rozier did not play during the 2025-26 season while being investigated by federal authorities in connection with a sports betting scandal. His best season occurred when he played for Charlotte in 2023 and averaged 23.2 points per game.
Harrell played in the league from 2015-23, appearing for a variety of squads, including the Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers. His best season came when he played for the Lakers, when he averaged 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game during the 2019-20 season.
Harrell currently plays for Atléticos de San Germán in Puerto Rico.
Louisville has a chance to have two players drafted again this year. Alongside Brown is Ryan Conwell, who has been projected to be selected in the second round anywhere from 34th to the Sacramento Kings to 46th by the Orlando Magic.
Conwell averaged 18.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game during his senior season with the Cardinals. The Indianapolis native was a member of the All-ACC Second Team.
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Who is Louisville's highest NBA draft pick ever?
The highest a Louisville player has been selected is No. 1 overall. Pervis Ellison was taken with the first pick in the 1989 draft by the Sacramento Kings.
Ellison played in the league from 1989-2000. He was named the NBA's Most Improved Player in 1992, which was his best season playing professional basketball. Ellison averaged 20 points and 11.2 rebounds per game with the Washington Bullets.
How many players from Louisville have been drafted?
Louisville has had 77 total players drafted to the NBA, making it one of just 10 programs with at least 70 draft picks.
The first-ever player to be drafted from the program was Jack Knopf in 1947 to the St. Louis Bombers with the 17th pick.
The Cardinals have produced 18 NBA players over the past decade. The most notable is Donovan Mitchell, who was selected 13th overall in 2013, landing with the Utah Jazz after a draft-night trade with the Denver Nuggets. Mitchell is currently an All-NBA standout for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Some other notable names to be drafted out of Louisville are Wes Unseld, Darrell Griffith, Charlie Tyra, LaBradford Smith, Butch Beard and Rodney McCray.
Reach sports trending writer Alaina Morris at [email protected] and follow her on X at @alainammorris.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: NBA Draft 2026, Mikel Brown Jr. to make Louisville basketball history
Continue reading...
