Pat Kelsey has poached a player from his alma mater for Louisville basketball’s 2025-26 roster.
Former Xavier guard Ryan Conwell, a third-team All-Big East selection as a junior, committed to the Cardinals via the NCAA transfer portal on Tuesday, according to a report from ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. The 6-foot-4 Indianapolis native reportedly visited U of L on Tuesday.
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Louisville will be Conwell’s fourth school in as many seasons. Prior to the Musketeers, he played for South Florida as a freshman in 2022-23 and Indiana State as a sophomore in 2023-24. In total, he’s appeared in 104 games (93 starts).
Conwell was Xavier’s second-best scorer in 2024-25, averaging 16.5 points on 45% shooting for coach Sean Miller, who left Cincinnati after a first-round NCAA Tournament exit to take over the reins at Texas. He led the Musketeers in made 3-pointers (99) and attempts (240) — good for a 41.3% clip from beyond the arc — with 2.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists against 1.6 turnovers and 1.3 steals across 33 minutes per game.
The Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore at Indiana State, Conwell scored 20-plus points in 12 games during his stint at Xavier. His best performance to date came during a loss to Marquette in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals, when he went for a career-high 38 points on 13-for-18 (7-for-11) shooting. That capped of a stretch of five consecutive games with 20 or more; Conwell was the first Musketeers player since 2019-20 to do so in four straight.
“I think he is one of America’s best guards,” Miller said after Conwell’s Herculean effort against the Golden Eagles. “Ryan has done nothing but get better and better and better.”
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For his career, Conwell is averaging 13 points on 44.7% shooting and a 235-for-598 (39.3%) clip from 3. He’s totaled 374 rebounds (3.6 per), 239 assists (2.3) against 162 turnovers (1.6) and 113 steals (1.1).
At the time of Conwell’s commitment, 247Sports considered him the 11th-best transfer on the market.
Ryan Conwell #7 of the Xavier Musketeers dribbles in the second half of a quarterfinal game against the Marquette Golden Eagles during the Big East Men’s Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 13, 2025 in New York City. The Golden Eagles won 89-87.
The following players from Kelsey’s inaugural team are in line to return, if they don’t elect to pursue opportunities elsewhere: J’Vonne Hadley, Aly Khalifa, Kasean Pryor, Kobe Rodgers, Khani Rooths and James Scott.
Joining them are three newcomers, McDonald’s All-American point guard Mikel Brown Jr., 21-year-old German big man Sananda Fru and Kennesaw State transfer Adrian Wooley.
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The transfer portal closes April 22; players who enter it after that date will need a waiver to be eligible for the 2025-26 season. Players can commit to a school at any time, but the regular signing period begins April 16 and ends May 21.
Ryan Conwell highlights: Watch Louisville basketball transfer commit
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: Ryan Conwell commits to Pat Kelsey via portal
