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Louisville basketball's dynamic backcourt duo of Mikel Brown Jr. and Ryan Conwell will represent the Cardinals at the NBA Draft Combine, which runs May 10-17 in Chicago.
For Brown, a 6-foot-5 freshman who's been a projected lottery pick since he first set foot on campus, the weeklong event represents a chance to show NBA coaches and executives the back injury that sidelined him from 14 games (including the final six) of the 2025-26 season is a thing of the past — and that he can hold his own against any member of this year's loaded guard class.
For Conwell, a 6-foot-4 senior, it's about proving he is more than capable of carving out a role at the sport's highest level after an uber-productive collegiate career spanning four programs in as many years.
Conwell was UofL's top scorer during Year 2 of the Pat Kelsey era. The Indianapolis native averaged 18.8 points on 40.8% shooting (34.5% from 3-point range), 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals across 30.9 minutes per contest.
Despite his absences, Brown wasn't that far behind Conwell: 18.2 points on 41% shooting (34.4% from 3) in addition to a team-high 4.7 assists (against 3.1 turnovers), 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals across 29 minutes per appearance. The Orlando, Florida, native also tied Wes Unseld and Reyne Smith's single-game records for points (45) and made 3s (10), respectively, during a Feb. 9 win over N.C. State at the KFC Yum! Center. Conwell followed with 31 points, making them the first Cards duo ever to drop 30 or more in the same outing.
Where do Brown and Conwell stand entering this crucial stage of the draft process? Here's a look:
Brown's injury hasn't severely damaged his draft stock to this point. As of April 29, six prognosticators had the floor general hearing his name called anywhere between No. 6 and No. 10 overall.
But, as The Athletic's Sam Vecenie noted in his most recent mock draft, scouts are eager to learn if Brown's back was "merely a short-term issue from overuse or if it could be a long-term problem." They should get some clarity when he undergoes a medical exam at the combine.
When Brown was operating at 100%, he was one of the country's most dynamic playmakers. Across his final 11 games at Louisville, he averaged 19.6 points on 43.2% shooting (40.4% from 3), 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals across 31 minutes per. His season-long 74.5% clip at the rim put him in the 92nd percentile nationally, according to CBBAnalytics.com.
"He has range out to 30 feet, and his vision as a playmaker for others exceeds everyone in the class when playing in a screen," Vecenie wrote. "If anyone in this deep draft class could average nine or 10 assists per game in the NBA, it's Brown."
There are some flaws in Brown's game, however.
CBB Analytics says 16.6% of the possessions he used ended in a turnover (29th percentile), which reflects poorly on his decision-making. And his defense is still very much a work in progress. Per BartTorvik.com, he had a defensive box plus-minus of 0.9 against top-50 opponents. "He's a serious negative in switch situations against stronger players, Vecenie wrote, "and his off-ball instincts are hit or miss."
Here's where Brown stood in the latest NBA draft projections as of April 29.
Note: Lottery positions will be determined via a drawing set for 3 p.m. May 10.
Conwell was as steady as they come during his lone go-around at Louisville, posting his third consecutive season with 16 or more points per game while converting 40% or more of his field-goal attempts. His 3-point clip slipped below 40% for the first time since he was a freshman at South Florida, but that can be chalked up to the increase in shot volume he saw as a focal point of Kelsey's high-octane, trigger-happy offense.
Conwell attempted 9.6 triples per game. He led the ACC and tied for 12th nationally with 112 makes, bringing his career total to 347 on 923 tries (37.6%).
That'll play in the NBA — especially when you consider that, per Torvik, he was one of only seven high-major players who had a turnover rate of 14.2% or lower while logging 75% or more of their teams' available minutes with a usage rate of 27.5% or higher.
The question is: Will his 6-4, 215-pound frame play? According to TheHoopsGeek.com, that was right around the average for shooting guards at the sport's highest level in 2025-26 (6-4, 202 pounds). One the one hand, he's built well enough to create some positional mismatches. But on the other, he might run into trouble against guys who are taller and quicker.
Here's where Conwell stood in the latest NBA draft projections as of April 29:
Reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at [email protected] and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: NBA Draft 2026 outlook for Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr., Ryan Conwell
Continue reading...
For Brown, a 6-foot-5 freshman who's been a projected lottery pick since he first set foot on campus, the weeklong event represents a chance to show NBA coaches and executives the back injury that sidelined him from 14 games (including the final six) of the 2025-26 season is a thing of the past — and that he can hold his own against any member of this year's loaded guard class.
For Conwell, a 6-foot-4 senior, it's about proving he is more than capable of carving out a role at the sport's highest level after an uber-productive collegiate career spanning four programs in as many years.
Conwell was UofL's top scorer during Year 2 of the Pat Kelsey era. The Indianapolis native averaged 18.8 points on 40.8% shooting (34.5% from 3-point range), 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals across 30.9 minutes per contest.
Despite his absences, Brown wasn't that far behind Conwell: 18.2 points on 41% shooting (34.4% from 3) in addition to a team-high 4.7 assists (against 3.1 turnovers), 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals across 29 minutes per appearance. The Orlando, Florida, native also tied Wes Unseld and Reyne Smith's single-game records for points (45) and made 3s (10), respectively, during a Feb. 9 win over N.C. State at the KFC Yum! Center. Conwell followed with 31 points, making them the first Cards duo ever to drop 30 or more in the same outing.
Where do Brown and Conwell stand entering this crucial stage of the draft process? Here's a look:
Mikel Brown Jr.'s NBA draft outlook
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Brown's injury hasn't severely damaged his draft stock to this point. As of April 29, six prognosticators had the floor general hearing his name called anywhere between No. 6 and No. 10 overall.
But, as The Athletic's Sam Vecenie noted in his most recent mock draft, scouts are eager to learn if Brown's back was "merely a short-term issue from overuse or if it could be a long-term problem." They should get some clarity when he undergoes a medical exam at the combine.
When Brown was operating at 100%, he was one of the country's most dynamic playmakers. Across his final 11 games at Louisville, he averaged 19.6 points on 43.2% shooting (40.4% from 3), 4.4 assists and 1.6 steals across 31 minutes per. His season-long 74.5% clip at the rim put him in the 92nd percentile nationally, according to CBBAnalytics.com.
"He has range out to 30 feet, and his vision as a playmaker for others exceeds everyone in the class when playing in a screen," Vecenie wrote. "If anyone in this deep draft class could average nine or 10 assists per game in the NBA, it's Brown."
There are some flaws in Brown's game, however.
CBB Analytics says 16.6% of the possessions he used ended in a turnover (29th percentile), which reflects poorly on his decision-making. And his defense is still very much a work in progress. Per BartTorvik.com, he had a defensive box plus-minus of 0.9 against top-50 opponents. "He's a serious negative in switch situations against stronger players, Vecenie wrote, "and his off-ball instincts are hit or miss."
Here's where Brown stood in the latest NBA draft projections as of April 29.
Note: Lottery positions will be determined via a drawing set for 3 p.m. May 10.
- USA TODAY Sports (April 28): 10th overall, Milwaukee Bucks
- The Athletic (April 29): 10th overall, Milwaukee Bucks
- Bleacher Report (April 21): eighth overall, Dallas Mavericks
- CBS Sports (Apr 13): eighth overall, Dallas Mavericks
- ESPN (Apr 28): eighth overall, Dallas Mavericks
- NBA Draft Room (April 27): sixth overall, Memphis Grizzlies
Ryan Conwell's NBA draft outlook
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Conwell was as steady as they come during his lone go-around at Louisville, posting his third consecutive season with 16 or more points per game while converting 40% or more of his field-goal attempts. His 3-point clip slipped below 40% for the first time since he was a freshman at South Florida, but that can be chalked up to the increase in shot volume he saw as a focal point of Kelsey's high-octane, trigger-happy offense.
Conwell attempted 9.6 triples per game. He led the ACC and tied for 12th nationally with 112 makes, bringing his career total to 347 on 923 tries (37.6%).
That'll play in the NBA — especially when you consider that, per Torvik, he was one of only seven high-major players who had a turnover rate of 14.2% or lower while logging 75% or more of their teams' available minutes with a usage rate of 27.5% or higher.
The question is: Will his 6-4, 215-pound frame play? According to TheHoopsGeek.com, that was right around the average for shooting guards at the sport's highest level in 2025-26 (6-4, 202 pounds). One the one hand, he's built well enough to create some positional mismatches. But on the other, he might run into trouble against guys who are taller and quicker.
Here's where Conwell stood in the latest NBA draft projections as of April 29:
- The Athletic (April 29): 38th overall, Chicago Bulls (via New Orleans Pelicans)
- Bleacher Report (April 21): 44th overall, San Antonio Spurs (via Miami Heat)
- ESPN (Apr 28): 39th overall, Houston Rockets (via Chicago Bulls)
- NBA Draft Room (April 27): 41st overall, San Antonio Spurs
Reach Louisville men's basketball reporter Brooks Holton at [email protected] and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: NBA Draft 2026 outlook for Louisville's Mikel Brown Jr., Ryan Conwell
Continue reading...
