Two members of Xavier’s 2025 NCAA Tournament team have been picked in the 2026 NBA Draft.
One day after Dailyn Swain was picked 15th overall by the Chicago Bulls, former Xavier guard Ryan Conwell was taken June 24 with the 37th overall pick. The picked belonged to the Oklahoma City Thunder, but Conwell was immediately acquired by the Miami Heat.
The Thunder then drafted Kentucky’s Otega Oweh with Miami’s original pick at No. 41.
Conwell played for four different programs in his four years of college basketball, with his penultimate stop coming at Xavier for the 2024-25 season following a breakout year with Indiana State.
In 34 games, Conwell averaged 16.5 points per game and earned third-team All-Big East honors. He ranked third in the Big East in 3-point shooting percentage (41.2%) and his 99 triples ranks fifth all-time in Xavier history for a single season.
Conwell entered the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining after head coach Sean Miller left the Musketeers for Texas. He joined Pat Kelsey’s Louisville Cardinals and led the team in scoring (18.8 points per game). Louisville earned a No. 6 seed in the NCAA Tournament and Conwell averaged 19.3 points and 5 rebounds in four total postseason games.
Conwell declared for the NBA Draft in April and numerous outlets projected the left-handed sharpshooter as a second-round pick.
In a mock draft from ESPN, Conwell was picked to go 39th overall to the Houston Rockets.
ESPN’s breakdown of Conwell’s game: “After playing for four colleges in four years, Conwell has gradually positioned himself as a second-round selection. A career 37% from 3-point range, he’s a good enough shooter and plays hard enough to find his way into a role early in his career. If he doesn’t turn into an elite shotmaker, his size and lack of playmaking could ultimately work against him.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ex-Xavier guard Ryan Conwell picked in second round of NBA draft
Reporting by Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Shelby Dermer, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
