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2026 NBA Mock Draft: Mikel Brown Jr. Enters Top 6 in Latest First-Round Predictions

The 2026 NBA Draft class sees Mikel Brown Jr. crack the top six in Gary Parrish's newest projections, with five point guards potentially being selected within the first nine picks.

CBS Sports·Jun 11, 2026·via CBS Sports

2026 NBA Mock Draft: Mikel Brown Jr. Enters Top 6 in Latest First-Round Predictions

We are now less than two weeks away from the 2026 NBA Draft . To this point, the perception at the top hasn't really changed with AJ Dybantsa still expected to go first overall to the Washington Wizards .

Could it be somebody else?

Sure, I guess.

But all indications are that the one-and-done star from BYU will hear his name called first after leading the nation in scoring by averaging 25.5 points while shooting 51.0% from the field. In a loaded draft, Dybantsa seems like the safest among the big-upside swings. He's a 19-year-old wing with great positional size who has the length, wingspan and athleticism to be special on both ends -- but his real gift is on offense, where Dybantsa simply has a unique talent for getting the ball in the basket.

Nobody in this draft class is better at it.

2026 NBA Draft Scouting: Comparing Cameron Boozer's athletic translation vs. Caleb Wilson's untapped potential Adam Finkelstein

And are the Wizards really about to be interesting?

With Trae Young in the backcourt, Anthony Davis in the frontcourt and the No. 1 pick in the draft in between them, Washington could emerge as a fun League Pass team -- perhaps even as a playoff team. As always, we'll see. But if you ever want to know why the Wizards aimed for the bottom and won just 17 games this season, or why the NBA felt it necessary to change its lottery system rules, it's because, yes, tanking can be worth it. Undeniably, it was worth it in our nation's capital, where the prize for losing should be a big-scoring wing.

Mock Draft Round 1

Round 1 - Pick 1

AJ Dybantsa

BYU

• Fr • 6'9" / 217 lbs

Projected Team

Washington

PROSPECT RNK

1st

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

25.5

RPG

6.8

APG

3.7

3P%

33.1%

Dybantsa remains a sizable favorite in the betting markets to be selected first -- and most industry sources believe he'll be a Wizard. He's a jumbo-wing and natural scorer who led the EYBL in points per game after his freshman season of high school and the entire nation in points per game during his freshman season at BYU. Based on that trajectory, and Dybantsa's awesome physical tools, it will not be surprising if he also someday leads the NBA in scoring. His presence should make the Wizards interesting for the first time in a while. Alongside Trae Young and Anthony Davis, Dybantsa could help Washington reach the postseason next year for the first time since 2021.

Round 1 - Pick 2

Darryn Peterson

Kansas

• Fr • 6'5" / 200 lbs

Projected Team

Utah

PROSPECT RNK

2nd

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

20.2

RPG

4.2

APG

1.6

3P%

38.2%

Peterson's talent is undeniable but there are real questions among some front offices about whether he'll maximize his gifts because of the way his one season at Kansas unfolded. He was special in spots and at times looked like the most talented player in college basketball. But Peterson was also in and out of the lineup a lot -- sometimes by his own choice -- and that fact has raised concerns in some corners. Regardless, the ceiling is very high here. And that's why even though Peterson isn't likely to be selected where most had him projected a year ago -- i.e., first overall -- he won't have to wait long to hear commissioner Adam Silver call his name and officially make him teammates with former All-Stars Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in Utah.

Round 1 - Pick 3

Cameron Boozer

Duke

• Fr • 6'8" / 250 lbs

Projected Team

Memphis

PROSPECT RNK

3rd

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

22.5

RPG

10.2

APG

4.1

3P%

39.1%

The Grizzlies have traded Desmond Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. in the past year; Ja Morant is expected to go next. So the hope in Memphis is that the third pick in this draft delivers a new face of the franchise -- and, assuming he's available, it'll likely be Cameron Boozer. Given how the so-called Morant Era went off the rails with multiple suspensions before the franchise decided to pivot, selecting Boozer is the most sensible move. All he's ever done is be awesome -- both on and off the court -- and win, win, win. If the Grizz grab him, its starting frontcourt on Opening Night should feature the 2023 and 2024 CBS Sports National Player of the Year (Zach Edey) and the 2026 CBS Sports National Player of the Year (Boozer).

Round 1 - Pick 4

Caleb Wilson

North Carolina

• Fr • 6'9" / 210 lbs

Projected Team

Chicago

PROSPECT RNK

4th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PPG

19.8

RPG

9.4

APG

2.7

3P%

25.9%

Dybantsa, Peterson, Boozer and Wilson have been described by some as the clear top-four in this draft with most ranking Wilson fourth among the group. In truth, his ceiling is maybe higher than at least one of the three players expected to go before him -- but his floor is probably the lowest of the group because, right now, Wilson is a non-shooter headed to a league that values it. That's not ideal for a top-five pick. But the athleticism is off the charts, his motor runs great and competitiveness doesn't appear to be an issue. So, barring a surprise, Wilson won't go lower than fourth.

From Indiana Pacers Round 1 - Pick 5

Keaton Wagler

Illinois

• Fr • 6'5" / 188 lbs

Projected Team

L.A. Clippers

PROSPECT RNK

5th

POSITION RNK

2nd

PPG

17.9

RPG

5.1

APG

4.2

3P%

39.7%

The Clippers are an obvious candidate to trade down. And there are franchises reportedly trying to move into the top five. So don't be surprised if this pick gets moved. If it doesn't, though, Wagler makes a lot of sense as a jumbo lead guard who can play on or off the ball. Most importantly, the Clippers need a bigger guard beside Darius Garland, who is only 6-foot-1 and under contract with Los Angeles for two more years, and Wagler is the tallest option among the guards expected to go in this range.

Round 1 - Pick 6

Mikel Brown Jr.

Louisville

• Fr • 6'4" / 190 lbs

Projected Team

Brooklyn

PROSPECT RNK

8th

POSITION RNK

5th

PPG

18.2

RPG

3.3

APG

4.7

3P%

34.4%

The Nets took four guards in last year's draft, but none of them really did anything too encouraging as rookies for a 20-win team, which obviously isn't a great sign. Either way, that's my way of suggesting Brooklyn shouldn't hesitate to take a big swing on another guard here -- and the biggest swing they can take might be Brown, the one-and-done star from Louisville who was great when he played but limited to just 21 appearances because of a back issue. His best performance came in early February, when Brown made 10 3-pointers and finished with 45 points in a win over NC State. On that day, he looked like a top 10 pick. Later this month, he should be one.

Round 1 - Pick 7

Darius Acuff Jr.

Arkansas

• Fr • 6'2" / 185 lbs

Projected Team

Sacramento

PROSPECT RNK

6th

POSITION RNK

3rd

PPG

23.5

RPG

3.1

APG

6.4

3P%

44%

Acuff just became the first player to lead the SEC in both points and assists since Pete Maravich did it at LSU in 1970. Special talent. Fun player. Would it be better if he were taller? Yes. Would it be better if he weren't a negative-defender? Also yes. But the offensive skill-set and deadly jumper are probably too much to pass on at this point in this draft, especially considering Sacramento is reportedly a fan of John Calipari's latest one-and-done star.

From New Orleans Pelicans Round 1 - Pick 8

Kingston Flemings

Houston

• Fr • 6'3" / 183 lbs

Projected Team

Atlanta

PROSPECT RNK

7th

POSITION RNK

4th

PPG

16.1

RPG

4.1

APG

5.2

3P%

38.7%

The Hawks are in need of backcourt help. Flemings could provide it. The point guard prospect wasn't the highest-rated recruit in Houston's freshman class but emerged as the program's best player while helping the Cougars win 30 games and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. He's the rare 19-year-old who is both a top-tier athlete and a strong shooter. Flemings could be a rotation piece for a playoff team as a rookie.

Round 1 - Pick 9

Brayden Burries

Arizona

• Fr • 6'4" / 215 lbs

Projected Team

Dallas

PROSPECT RNK

9th

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

16.1

RPG

4.9

APG

2.4

3P%

39.1%

Koa Peat was the talk of Arizona's freshman class early -- especially after he got 30 points in that season-opening win over Florida. But it was Burries, also a first-year player, who emerged as the leading scorer for a team that won the Big 12's regular-season title and advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. He's a physical guard who can shoot and rebound. He'd fit nicely in Dallas next to franchise centerpiece Cooper Flagg.

Round 1 - Pick 10

Nate Ament

Tennessee

• Fr • 6'10" / 211 lbs

Projected Team

Milwaukee

PROSPECT RNK

10th

POSITION RNK

3rd

PPG

16.7

RPG

6.3

APG

2.3

3P%

33.3%

It remains unclear which direction the Bucks are headed, but most indications are that Giannis Antetokounmpo is on the way out. If so, it'll be rebuild-time in Milwaukee, at which point taking a huge swing on Ament would be defensible. The wing with size had an up-and-down freshman season for the Vols -- but the upside isn't hard to spot. Less than a year ago, the 2025 McDonald's All-American was considered a possible top-five pick. So getting Ament here would be nice for a Bucks franchise that will likely finish outside of the top 10 in the East next season in the absence of their former MVP.

Round 1 - Pick 11

Yaxel Lendeborg

Michigan

• Sr • 6'9" / 241 lbs

Projected Team

Golden St.

PROSPECT RNK

12th

POSITION RNK

4th

PPG

15.1

RPG

6.8

APG

3.2

3P%

37.2%

Lendeborg transferred from UAB to Michigan and was the best player on a team that won the NCAA Tournament one year after he didn't even win Player of the Year honors in the sport's 11th-best conference (American). Just an awesome story. That he's already 23 years old will turn some franchises off -- but if Golden State is still all-in on trying to put pieces around Steph Curry, Lendeborg's age should mostly be irrelevant to the decision-making process in the Bay.

From Los Angeles Clippers Round 1 - Pick 12

Aday Mara

Michigan

• Jr • 7'3" / 260 lbs

Projected Team

Oklahoma City

PROSPECT RNK

11th

POSITION RNK

1st

PPG

12.1

RPG

6.8

APG

2.4

3P%

30%

Did you hear about Oklahoma City's Victor Wembanyama problem? Yeah, it's serious -- perhaps for the next decade-plus. So if Mara is still available at 12, using this pick on somebody who can nearly look Wemby eye-to-eye would be logical. Mara sees the floor well from way up there, passes effectively and finishes with both hands. But his real strength is on defense, where he blocked and altered shots all NCAA Tournament while helping the Wolverines win the national championship.

Round 1 - Pick 13

Hannes Steinbach

Washington

• Fr • 6'10" / 248 lbs

Projected Team

Miami

PROSPECT RNK

16th

POSITION RNK

6th

PPG

18.5

RPG

11.8

APG

1.6

3P%

34%

You might've noticed this mock is light on prospects currently playing overseas, and that's because lots of the top international names have been lured stateside via big NIL/revenue-share payments. Steinbach was one such player. The 20-year-old German proved to be an elite rebounder on both ends in his one season at Washington. The Heat need to add depth to a frontcourt highlighted by Bam Adebayo. Steinbach could provide it.

Round 1 - Pick 14

Morez Johnson Jr.

Michigan

• Soph • 6'9" / 250 lbs