Louisville’s summer basketball pipeline keeps producing, and two former Cardinals are using NBA Summer League to keep their names in the mix.
The latest buzz started with the draft in June, when Mikel Brown Jr. became the first Card drafted in the top six overall since 1990. Brown went No. 6 to the Brooklyn Nets, while Ryan Conwell landed at No. 37 with the Miami Heat. That made it the first time since 2015 that Louisville had multiple Cardinals taken in the same draft.
Conwell has already turned heads in Summer League, averaging 19 points across four games. Brown, meanwhile, has only appeared in one game, but he made that one count with 20 points in 22 minutes.
But the Louisville representation doesn’t stop there. J’Vonne Hadley and Isaac McKneely are also trying to carve out a path, with both former Cardinals now working toward spots on NBA G-League teams.
Hadley, who went undrafted, is with the Miami Heat and now shares a roster with Conwell. McKneely, also undrafted, is with the Atlanta Hawks. Both have put together strong stretches as they try to keep their NBA hopes alive.
Hadley has started multiple Summer League games for Miami and continues to be one of the more dependable pieces on the floor. In his latest outing, he scored 10 points, hit two 3-pointers, and added five rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block.
He has played at least 20 minutes in every Summer League game but one, and the production has been steady. Hadley has grabbed five rebounds or more in five games, including four straight with at least five boards. He has also posted three games with seven or more rebounds, highlighted by a 10-rebound performance against the Golden State Warriors.
So far, Hadley is averaging 5.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.
McKneely, who spent one season at Louisville, made his name with his shooting this past season. He knocked down 96 3-pointers for the Cardinals and finished with 329 in his four college seasons. In Summer League, he has shown he can contribute in more ways than just from deep.
In his most recent game, McKneely started and logged 26 minutes, finishing with a game-high five assists. He also chipped in two points and two rebounds.
Neither Hadley nor McKneely appears likely to crack their NBA rosters right now, but both are making a case for themselves. For Louisville fans, the stat lines are a reminder that the Cardinals’ presence is still being felt in Summer League, and that both players are taking a step toward the G-League level.
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