Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr., viewed as a potential top-10 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, will not be available for the start of the NCAA tournament this week.
The school announced Wednesday that Brown is still dealing with the back issues that have affected him for much of the season, ruling him out for Thursday’s matchup against South Florida, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
He’s also expected to miss the round of 32 if Louisville advances.
Brown put together a strong freshman campaign, averaging 18.2 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds in 29.2 minutes per game, but appeared in just 21 games and hasn’t played since February 28.
Even if he’s able to return later in the tournament, such as the Sweet 16, NBA teams are likely to closely monitor his medical evaluations at the draft combine this spring.
And-Ones: M. Brown, AP All-Americans, Senior Prospects, More https://t.co/vBvxPx7gAu pic.twitter.com/6K2itiE8Xi
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 18, 2026
