If you watched March Madness in 2025 and your jaw dropped at that logo three-pointer that sent Duke home and UConn to the Final Four, you are not alone. The whole country lost its mind.
And the kid who hit that shot?
Braylon Mullins. A freshman. Nineteen years old. Ice in his veins and basketball in his blood.
But where does that come from?
Who raised a kid capable of pulling off a moment like that on the biggest stage in college basketball?
Meet the Mullins family: the people from Greenfield, Indiana, who started all of this.
Who Are Braylon Mullins Parents?
Braylon Mullins parents are Katie and Josh Mullins.
Solo Ball’s mom found Braylon Mullins’ parents in the stands right after I did.
— Kyle Tucker (@KyleTuckerCBB) March 30, 2026
“Thank you for making him,” she said.
Story to come! “Oh, what a night” playing on the speakers here now. No kidding. pic.twitter.com/qoVe95x7pZ
He also has two younger brothers, Cole and Clay. Born on April 18, 2006, Braylon first picked up a basketball when he was only four years old.
Growing up in Greenfield, Indiana, a small town where basketball is not just a sport but a way of life, Braylon was surrounded by the game from the very beginning.
And that was no accident. His dad made sure of it.
Josh Mullins- The Dad Who Lived the Dream First
Here is the thing about Braylon Mullins’ father, basketball is not just something Josh Mullins watched from the bleachers. He played it.
Josh Mullins was an athletic 6-foot-6 guard who played for Lincoln Trail College and for IUPUI, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, from 1999 to 2003.
He averaged 12.2 points for the IUPUI team that became the school’s first to make the NCAA Tournament in 2003.
Josh went into coaching when he became a father and raised a son who went on to achieve more in basketball than he ever did.
That right there is a story worth telling. A dad who played the game, poured everything he knew into his son, and then watched that son go further than he ever imagined.
Josh has always believed in Braylon, even when others doubted him. He said people always said Braylon was not good enough.
But every time, Braylon surprised people. They never thought he would be Mr. Basketball. They never thought he would play at UConn. And here we are. The next step is the NBA.
Katie Mullins- The Mom Behind the Scenes
When Braylon announced his commitment to play for the University of Connecticut, he sat next to Katie Mullins parents, Katie and Josh Mullins, for the big reveal at Greenfield-Central’s gymnasium in front of family, teammates, coaches, friends, and fans.
That image says everything. Katie has been right there beside Braylon through every step of this journey, from small-town Indiana gyms to the brightest lights in college basketball.
While Josh brought the basketball knowledge, Katie brought the stability and love that every young athlete needs behind the scenes.
Wait!!! Is Braylon Mullins Related to Chris Mullin?
This is the question everyone keeps asking. Let’s clear it up.
While the last names sound similar, Braylon Mullins and NBA legend Chris Mullin are not actually related. It is a small distinction, the UConn star has an S at the end of his last name, while the Hall of Famer does not.
Braylon is not the nephew of a five-time NBA All-Star and Basketball Hall of Famer.
He is simply a kid from Greenfield, Indiana, who worked hard enough to be mentioned in the same breath as one. Honestly? That is more impressive.
From Greenfield to the UConn Huskies- A Family That Bet on Itself
Braylon attended Greenfield-Central High School, where, as a senior, he led the team to a 23-4 record and averaged 32.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 3.7 steals per game while shooting over 47 percent from three-point range.
Those are not just good numbers. Those are extraordinary numbers.
They earned him a five-star recruit ranking, a McDonald’s All-American selection, and Indiana’s Mr. Basketball award, the highest honor a high school basketball player can receive in the state.
Braylon had his choice of virtually any college in the country, including Duke, Indiana, and North Carolina, but chose UConn because of the relationship he built with Huskies coach Dan Hurley.
Hurley and UConn had built one of the most dominant programs in college basketball, and Braylon wanted to be part of something special.
The Shot That Broke the Internet
On March 29, 2026, Braylon Mullins became a March Madness legend.
With UConn trailing and seconds left in the Elite Eight against Duke, Mullins buried a last-second 35-footer to secure a 73-72 victory, sending UConn to the Final Four for the third time in four years and ending Duke’s season in heartbreaking fashion.
Braylon’s dad Josh was right there in the building to witness his son’s incredible game-winning shot, and his reaction said everything a father could say in that moment.
That shot did not come from nowhere. It came from years of a dad from Indianapolis investing every basketball lesson he had into his son.
It came from a mom named Katie who stood by her family through every gym, every early morning, every doubt. The Mullins family from Greenfield believed when nobody else did, and March Madness 2025 was their reward.
What’s Next for Braylon Mullins?
During his freshman season at UConn, Braylon Mullins averaged 12.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game and earned a spot on the Big East All-Freshman Team.
He is regarded as a potential lottery pick in the 2026 NBA Draft if he decides to leave UConn after one season. NBA Draft analysts have flagged his elite shooting, defensive instincts and basketball IQ as traits that translate directly to the next level.
Josh Mullins said the next step is the NBA. Based on everything Braylon has shown this freshman season, that step looks very close.
The Family Behind the UConn Star
Braylon Mullins parents, Katie and Josh Mullins, did not just raise a basketball player.
They raised a young man with character, composure, and the ability to stay calm when everything is on the line.
Josh gave him the game. Katie gave him the foundation. Greenfield, Indiana, gave him the hunger. Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies gave him the stage.
The rest? Braylon is writing that chapter himself, one impossible shot at a time.
For more stories on the families behind your favorite athletes, visit The Sportory.
