Captain of the Auburn squad today and all set to head to the Final Four with his ambush of Tigers, it was not long ago that Dylan would mop the floors at the Peach Jam. “I tell people I used to be a ball boy and they laugh,” Cardwell said. “A 6-5 eighth grader walking around with the 6-9 players, mopping up.” During this time, he witnessed the likes of Michael Porter Jr. at the headlining event of the summer basketball circuit at Riverview Park Activities Center. Dylan’s goal of playing in the Peach Jam was fulfilled when he got the opportunity to play for Team CP3 in the 16U portion of the Peach Jam.

Dylan and his two younger brothers, Duvall and Drake, were raised alone by his mother, Michele Cardwell. Drake is currently a redshirt freshman at Auburn and followed in his brother’s footsteps to even study the same program. Dylan realizes the pains his mother had to endure to raise three children on her own, but he just uses it as fuel to get better. “I come from a single-mother household, and when I come out, I compete like it’s my last day,” he said. “I don’t want my mom working anymore. My goal is to make it to the NBA. I work every day for that.” A work ethic appreciated by anyone who’s coached him and a personality so joyous he’s received the tag of “Mr. Auburn”.

What are Dylan Cardwell’s NIL deals as of 2025?

Details on Dylan Cardwell’s NIL deals are not available publicly. However, in the past, he’s spoken about the impact of NIL on himself and that he received $75,000 as part of a deal, which was a lot more than he expected at first, highlighting the positive impact of NIL on players.

Dylan and his frontcourt partner, Johni Broome, were engaged in a creative name, image, and likeness deal with the local female-founded shop Scarlet and Gold that allowed fans to support the team and players as they enter the March Madness tournament. Scarlet and Gold Founder and CEO Megan Smalley has been navigating the college basketball and sports world for a while as an officially licensed shop with Auburn. She spoke about how NIL allows shops to market not just the teams and their logos but also the players. “The Auburn fan base doesn’t just want Dylan and Johni merch,” Smalley explained. “They want Auburn Dylan and Johni merch.” For companies like Scarlet and Gold, the ability to license players’ NIL in tandem with schools changes the game.

Which high school did Dylan Cardwell attend?

Dylan played his first two years of high school basketball at Evans High School in Georgia and then went to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, one of the finest prep schools in the country, boasting a shimmering alumni of over 35 NBA players. Fighting for a spot on legend Steve Smith’s squad, Dylan Cardwell played in 32 games during the season, contributing 3.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game off the bench. One of the reasons for his limited minutes, as described by his coach, Bruce Pearl, was, “He barely played as a high-school junior because he was at Oak Hill Academy playing behind Kofi Cockburn.” Cockburn was a senior at Oak Hill at the time and was ranked No. 12 among centers by 247Sports and ESPN.

While those at Auburn continue to rave about Dylan and his infectious positivity, he claims that he gets it from his grandfather, calling Grandpa Thomas Johnson “a better Auburn man than himself.” Growing up, Johnson was Cardwell’s biggest fan. When Cardwell transferred to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia as a junior in high school, Johnson still made an effort to attend as many of his games as he could from his home in Augusta, Georgia. And when Cardwell was a freshman at Auburn, Johnson traveled to every single home game and made it to any of the road games within driving distance. Even at 80 years old, Johnson did not miss an opportunity to watch his grandson play. Dylan has referred to his grandfather as his best friend on several occasions as well, highlighting their unique bond.

In his senior year, Dylan transferred to McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, to team up with future Auburn teammate Sharife Cooper. Unfortunately, the Georgia High School Association ruled him ineligible, which changed his plans for his senior year. While it turned Dylan’s life upside down, he has been known to display maturity from a young age. When asked about his disappointment, he said, “My faith is being tested and I’ve grown a lot while weathering this storm…I must remember that this is God’s plan for me, and His plans are far greater than mine.”

Despite not playing the entirety of his senior year, Dylan had offers from several prominent programs, including Auburn University, where he eventually committed. His recruitment shows the impact he had while at Oak Hill. Speaking about Dylan’s path, Bruce Pearl said, “So he doesn’t play as a senior. We take him anyways — because we saw a young man that wanted to work hard, that had been overlooked. But he had that size, he had some speed, he had some ability. He kept on chopping wood. He kept on working at his game. He’s one of our hardest workers.” An elite compliment displaying exactly how valuable Dylan is.

What is Dylan Cardwell’s net worth and salary?

Dylan Cardwell’s net worth is not available in the public domain. Auburn’s deep run to the final four is sure to raise his draft stock, and the last 2 games of the season could impact his net worth drastically based on his output. This would also help Dylan sneak a spot on the NBA draft because he is currently not a part of the majority of mock drafts. As Dylan is a college player, he also cannot receive a salary in accordance with the rules of the NCAA.