Braylon Mullins is suddenly being treated like a first-round NBA draft pick. 's latest mock draft projects the UConn standout in the first round of the 2026 NBA draft after his breakout run in the 2026 men's NCAA Tournament.
The projection has Mullins at No. 13, with a path through Phoenix at No. 20 and Golden State at No. 42, a sharp rise for a player who became one of the most talked-about names in March Madness after hitting one of the most improbable 3-pointers in tournament history. Mullins helped push UConn all the way to the collegiate national championship game, and his timing could hardly be better with the draft expected in late June.
That rise is rooted in more than one wild shot. Mullins shot 40.7 percent on 3-pointers during his first 18 games in the starting lineup, giving scouts a cleaner picture of how his game might translate when he is not defined only by a highlight from the tournament. The mock draft frames him as a five-star recruit and former McDonald's All-American who now looks like a useful off-ball threat with an immediately practical role at the next level.
Read Also: Cedric Mullins Records First Stolen Bases, Goes 2-for-5
The tension for Mullins is that one March hero moment can fast-track a prospect, but it can also inflate expectations before the real evaluation begins. The NBA will spend the next few months deciding whether the tournament surge changed his standing for good or simply pushed his name into the conversation at the right time.
Read Also: Julian Champagnie sets Spurs 3-point record in loss to Nuggets
For now, the answer is clear enough: Mullins Uconn has moved from March surprise to June draft candidate, and the league is acting like that is no accident.
