Former Xavier assistant coach and Cincinnati native Pat Kelsey has secured another commitment from a player with ties to the Musketeers.
On Tuesday evening, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported that Ryan Conwell has pledged to join Kelsey’s Louisville Cardinals.
Conwell, originally from Indianapolis, became the fifth Xavier player to enter the NCAA transfer portal on March 28. His decision came after former Xavier head coach Sean Miller departed to take over the Texas program.
Before choosing Louisville, Conwell visited the Indiana Hoosiers on Monday, as reported by 247Sports.
During the previous season, Conwell put up impressive numbers, averaging 16.5 points per game. He earned third-team All-Big East honors while starting all 34 games for Xavier. Notably, he ranked third in the conference for three-point shooting accuracy at 41.2% and delivered a standout performance with a career-best 38 points in Xavier’s Big East Tournament loss to Marquette.
Conwell’s commitment to Louisville marks his fourth collegiate stop in as many years. His journey has been shaped by coaching changes at every program he has played for since beginning his college career.
The Cardinals, in their first year under Kelsey, compiled an overall record of 27-8, including an 18-2 mark in ACC play. Their strong season culminated in an NCAA Tournament appearance, their first since 2019. However, their postseason run ended early with a first-round defeat to ninth-seeded Creighton.
Statistically, Louisville ranked 30th in offensive efficiency according to KenPom but struggled from beyond the arc, placing just 222nd in three-point shooting percentage. With the addition of Conwell, the Cardinals significantly bolster their perimeter scoring capabilities by bringing in one of the most skilled shooters available in the transfer portal.
