After leading Louisville basketball to one of the largest turnarounds in Division I history, Pat Kelsey built a 2025-26 roster that’s garnering lofty expectations. This summer, The Courier Journal is taking a player-by-player look at the team, dissecting what each one will bring to the Cardinals. Up next: Ryan Conwell.
To catch up on previous entries in the series, click here.
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Ryan Conwell made quite the first impression on Louisville basketball fans.
On April 2, the day after committing to Pat Kelsey via the NCAA transfer portal, Conwell shared a message to Cardinals supporters on Instagram. It reads, “New city. New family. Same mission.
“This isn’t just a commitment — it’s a promise,” the 6-foot-4 guard from Indianapolis wrote. “Louisville, I’m all in. Let’s build something special!”
Then, to his story, Conwell posted a photo from his childhood. It was of him and his late grandfather smiling outside the KFC Yum! Center.
All in, indeed.
Conwell was the second of Kelsey’s three portal commitments this offseason. U of L is his fourth school in as many years, following stints at South Florida (2022-23), Indiana State (2023-24) and Xavier (2024-25) — all of which ended in coaching changes. He’s started 83 consecutive games dating back to Jan. 29, 2023.
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In a statement when Conwell signed with Louisville, Kelsey called him “one of the best all-around guards in the collegiate game.” He also said Cards fans are going to love “his bravado and big-game, big-moment mentality.”
The latest projections from The Athletic and ESPN have Conwell as a second-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
“Ryan is a pro in every sense of the word on and off the court,” Kelsey said in the statement. “One person that we spoke to that was around him for a long time told us he is one of the best humans they’ve ever worked with. That is powerful praise.”
In short, Conwell is exactly the type of player U of L needs at the forefront if Kelsey’s Year 1 revival is to become an arrival in Year 2 — proven but still teeming with potential. Here’s a look back at his junior season and a breakdown of what his role could be in 2025-26:
Scouting report: Recapping Ryan Conwell’s 2024-25 season
Xavier Musketeers guard Ryan Conwell (7) smiles as he picks up the ball in a timeout in the second half of the NCAA Men’s Basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and the Jackson State Tigers at the Cintas Center at Xavier University in Cincinnati on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. Xavier won 94-57.
Conwell’s collegiate career has been one of steady growth. He worked his way into South Florida’s starting lineup as a freshman, was named the Missouri Valley Conference’s Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore at Indiana State and earned third-team All-Big East honors as a junior at Xavier.
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Conwell finished 2024-25 as the Musketeers’ second-best scorer, averaging 16.5 points to go along with 2.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists against 1.6 turnovers and 1.3 steals across 33 minutes per game. The lefty led XU in made 3-pointers (99, eight shy of the program’s single-season record) and attempts (240) — good for a career-high 41.3% clip from beyond the arc.
How’s this for rare company? Conwell, per BartTorvik.com, was one of only two high-major players who made 90 or more 3s and 100-plus free throws. He shot 50% or better from 2-point range last season. Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr., a consensus first-team All-American and the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, was the other.
In addition to his three-level scoring, Conwell offers Louisville solid facilitating abilities. As a junior, he assisted nearly 15% of his Xavier teammates’ baskets when he was on the court and posted the lowest turnover rate (12.8) among Musketeers players with minute shares of 70% or more.
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Defensively, Conwell fits Kelsey’s mold — experienced, versatile and accustomed to playing at a fast pace. He doesn’t have an elite propensity for disruption like Chucky Hepburn but should be comfortable against tough assignments on the perimeter.
“He really doesn’t have any weaknesses,” said Evan Miyakawa, the analytics guru behind EvanMiya.com. “He’s going to be a do-it-all guy.”
Ryan Conwell’s 2025-26 outlook with Louisville basketball
Xavier Musketeers guard Ryan Conwell (7) jumps up for a layup in the first half of a NCAA men’s basketball game between the Xavier Musketeers and DePaul Blue Demons, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025, at Cintas Center in Cincinnati.
Why did Conwell choose Louisville? In an interview with The Field of 68, he said Kelsey’s scheme was a major factor.
“The five-out offense — fast paced, shoot a lot of 3s and layups — was definitely something I was looking (for),” Conwell said. “(With) my ability to play different positions and being able to be on and off the ball, I can help Louisville; and Louisville can help me.”
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The Cards’ backcourt is loaded for 2025-26, with McDonald’s All-American Mikel Brown Jr. expected to start at point guard and Conwell, Isaac McKneely, Kobe Rodgers and Adrian Wooley competing for minutes alongside him. In an ideal world for Kelsey, the group stays healthy and gives him one of the deepest rotations in the country to work with.
That said, it’s really hard to picture Conwell taking much of a backseat to anyone. He’s got 104 games at the Division I level under his belt — 71 of which he played in more than 80% of the available minutes — and rarely has an off night.
Hoop-Explorer.com lists three player projections for next season: balanced, optimistic and pessimistic. At his very best, Conwell has a projected net rating of 9.0 (in the 99th percentile), meaning he’d be nine points per 100 possessions better than the average DI player. At his worst, the number drops to 5.9 (in the 93rd percentile).
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Try keeping that off the court.
Fortunately, as Conwell alluded to, he has experience playing multiple positions. His best fit at U of L could be as a wing who can stretch defenses with his accuracy from deep and attack off the dribble — either finishing at the rim or dishing to other knockdown shooters such as McKneely and Wooley at the 2.
Regardless of where he lines up, Conwell could prove to be one of the country’s most impactful transfers. It’s a great problem for Kelsey & Co. to have, figuring out how to maximize his game on a team with no shortage of weapons.
Reach Louisville men’s basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville basketball roster 2025-26: Ryan Conwell scouting report
