Inside Ryan Conwell’s Game-Changing Potential on Louisville’s 2025-26 Roster: What Fans Need to Know

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.

• Ryan Conwell joined Louisville basketball via the NCAA transfer portal as one of the most coveted guards on the market.
• Below, we break down Conwell’s game and how he fits into Pat Kelsey’s 2025-26 roster.

When Ryan Conwell committed to Louisville basketball, it wasn’t just another signing—it was a vivid declaration of loyalty and ambition that reverberated through the fanbase. This 6-foot-4 guard from Indianapolis, stepping into Pat Kelsey’s carefully constructed 2025-26 roster, offers a potent blend of experience and potential that could elevate the Cardinals’ backcourt to new heights. Having navigated the currents of the NCAA transfer portal through South Florida, Indiana State, and Xavier—all marked by coaching upheavals—Conwell arrives as a steadfast competitor ready to make an immediate impact. Kelsey’s commendation of him as one of the collegiate game’s finest all-around guards hints at the kind of leadership and skill Louisville fans can expect. But beyond the stats and accolades lies a player deeply connected to his journey, driven by a mission that’s more than basketball. Dive into an in-depth exploration of how Conwell’s versatile game and unyielding mentality fit into Louisville’s soaring expectations for the future. LEARN MORE“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.”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.”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.

“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.”

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.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.

The latest projections from The Athletic and ESPN have Conwell as a second-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

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.”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!”

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.All in, indeed.

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).

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.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.

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.Reach Louisville men’s basketball reporter Brooks Holton at [email protected] and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.

Ryan Conwell made quite the first impression on Louisville basketball fans.

“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.”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.Try keeping that off the court.

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.

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.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.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:Why did Conwell choose Louisville? In an interview with The Field of 68, he said Kelsey’s scheme was a major factor.