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Braylon Mullins was one of the most highly recruited high school players in the country last year, coming in at No. 14 in RSCI rankings. The McDonald's All-American wing picked UConn in the hopes of being part of some big moments, and he certainly experienced that in the NCAA tournament.
Mullins was the hero of the Elite Eight, hitting one of the most improbable game-winners in tournament history to get UConn into the Final Four. He called it "single-handedly the greatest moment in my life," and it instantly launched him on the national scene.
Mullins has proven that he can hit the big shots, but does he have NBA potential?
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Braylon Mullins stats
| Stat | Average |
| Points | 12.0 |
| Rebounds | 3.5 |
| Assists | 1.5 |
| Blocks | 0.7 |
| Steals | 1.0 |
| Field goal % | 43.5 |
| 3-point % | 33.2 |
| Free throw % | 88.2 |
Braylon Mullins height, weight, year
- Height: 6-6
- Weight: 196 pounds
- Year: Freshman
Braylon Mullins strengths
Mullins didn't look like a knock-down shooter before hitting the big one to knock out Duke. He had missed all four of his 3's on the night leading up to that shot, and he's been in a big slump, hitting only 10 of his last 57 3's. That has dropped his percentage on the year down to 33.2 percent.
Mullins is better than that raw number suggests. As a senior in high school, he shot over 47 percent from 3 and was named Indiana's Mr. Basketball. He been used as a floor spacer for UConn, getting most of his offense off spot-ups and flying off screens. His form and footwork are strong, he's got a quick release, and he looks comfortable from NBA range. He simply hadn't been knocking down a high percentage of his looks though, which makes his shot on Sunday even more impressive.
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 29, 2026Mullins is primarily a shooter, but he has also shown flashes of some playmaking ability. He moves the ball quickly, and he has gotten a chance to run a handful of pick-and-rolls this year. He has a soft floater and a good pull-up jumper that he's leaned on in those situations. He hasn't made a ton of high-level passes in college, but he does have good feel and there is some hope that he could develop in that area if given more opportunities.
Mullins hasn't been able to get to the rim very frequently. More often, he'll look for his jump shot. When he has gotten there though, he's hit 60.5 percent of his shots, ranking in the 62nd percentile of players. He's a decent athlete who has thrown down five dunks this year.
Mullins is a good defender who processes the game well. He has good size, he gives effort, moves his feet reasonably well, and has positional awareness.
SN AWARDS: All-America team | Player of the Year | Coach of the Year
Braylon Mullins weaknesses
Mullins does have some positive athletic indicators, but he's not an explosive athlete. He profiles more as a shooter first and foremost. He needs to add some bulk to his frame. He had issues with physicality towards the end of his season, contributing to his slump.
Mullins is great at using screens to get himself open. When he needs to create his own shot though, he has struggled. He only has two isolation shots recorded in Synergy this year. He took tough contested 3's on both opportunities. The lack of separation is also evident in his rim attempts, where he ranks in the fourth percentile of all players. More often, he's pulling up for jumpers rather than taking it to the paint.
Mullins also simply needs to shoot the ball better. He had picturesque form and did it in high school, but it's a tough sell to draft a shooter who was only at 33 percent in his lone year of college ball.
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Braylon Mullins NBA Mock Draft projection
Mock Draft projection: Middle of first round
Mullins has a wide spread for where he lands on draft boards. Some have him in the early teens, while others have him near the end of the first round. He has fluctuated throughout the year, falling down boards as his slump had continued. At this point, it's unclear if he will enter the 2026 draft.
Mullins could benefit from returning to school for another year. The draft classes in 2027 and 2028 look very weak. He could be a top pick if he waits it out, gets stronger, and shows better shooting numbers. The NIL payday will be there, and this is a very viable option for him.
MORE: NBA Mock Draft 2026: Projecting where Cam Boozer, AJ Dybantsa will go
Braylon Mullins NBA player comparison
Plays like: Jaylen Wells
Wells finished a surprising third in Rookie of the Year voting in 2025, turning into one of the steals of the draft. He doesn't necessarily have one elite skill, but he can handle the ball, defend, and shoot at a reasonable clip. With his 6-foot-7 height, that's enough to be a starter in the league.
Mullins isn't there yet, but he could fit into that same type of glue guy role. He has the size, the defense, and the offensive talent. He needs to knock down more shots though.
Jordan Hawkins is another popular Mullins comp. Hawkins was a UConn star who got picked No. 14 in the 2023 draft due to his prolific shooting. After a promising rookie year for the Pelicans, he has steadily fallen out of their rotation. He hasn't been able to shoot effectively, hitting just 34 percent of his 3's for his career, and he doesn't do much else on the floor.
Shooting is the big swing skill for most prospects. Mullins can certainly be a much more successful player than Hawkins has been. If he can become a 40 percent shooter in the NBA, then he will have a very long career and be one of the more dangerous scorers in the NBA. If, like Hawkins, he never shows that touch, then he will likely bust.
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