LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Two University of Louisville men’s basketball guards, Mikel Brown, Jr., and Ryan Conwell, received invites to participate in the 2026 NBA draft combine.
The draft combine will take place from Sunday, May 10-17 in Chicago. The event takes players through a series of evaluations, including physical and medical, drills and skills testing, scrimmage and gameplay, plus offers them chances to interview with NBA teams. Being part of the draft combine can have a significant impact on a player’s draft chances.
During his injury-shortened season, Brown, an Orlando native, averaged 18.2 points, 4.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in his 21 games. He earned Third Team All-ACC and All-Rookie Team honors. He had over nine 20-point games, the most by any Louisville freshman in a single season throughout the history of the program.
Brown’s first statement game came when he scored 29 points and had five assists to lead the Cards to a 96-88 win over archrival UK on Nov. 11. In February, he once again showed why he was one of the most hyped UofL freshmen ever when he tied the UofL scoring record and broke the ACC freshman scoring record with 45 points in a 118-77 win over NC State.
He was named National AP Player of the Week, Naismith Trophy Player of the Week, and ACC Player and Rookie of the Week in mid-February.
UofL players Ryan Conwell and Mikel Brown Jr. have been invited to participate in the 2026 NBA draft combine.(Mallory Peak | Louisville Athletics | Mallory Peak | Louisville Athletics)
Senior Ryan Conwell, led Louisville in scoring with an average of 18.8 points a game. An Indianapolis native, he finished the season sixth in the conference in scoring, 10th in free throw percentage, and eighth in 3-point field goal percentage. Cornwell sank 112 3-point shots during the year.
Conwell scored 31 points on 10-14 shooting, including 5-6 from downtown in that blowout win over the Wolfpack.
Brown is expected to be a top-10 pick in the draft, with ESPN having him as the ninth-best player in the class and the fifth-best guard. The entire ESPN Top-10 are freshmen. Conwell is ranked 42nd on ESPN, currently.
The 2026 NBA draft lottery will be broadcast on ABC at 3 p.m., Sunday, May 10. The first round of the NBA draft is June 23, on ABC and ESPN, with the second round on June 24, on ESPN.
Over its history, Louisville has produced 77 NBA draft picks, with 20 players playing in the NBA over the last 11 years. Thirteen Cardinals were selected in the Top 10 of the NBA draft.
Donavan Mitchell was the school’s last first-round pick, going 13th overall in 2017. Samaki Walker in 1996 was the last Card to go in the Top 10.
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