Rashard Kelly
Rashard DaeQuan Kelly (born August 22, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for Gaziantep Basketbol of the Turkish Basketball Super League. He played college basketball for the Wichita State Shockers.
Kelly in 2020 | |
No. 1 – Gaziantep Basketbol | |
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Position | Small forward / Power forward |
League | Basketball Super League |
Personal information | |
Born | Fredericksburg, Virginia | August 22, 1995
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
Listed weight | 227 lb (103 kg) |
Career information | |
High school |
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College | Wichita State (2014–2018) |
NBA draft | 2018 / Undrafted |
Playing career | 2018–present |
Career history | |
2018–2019 | Parma |
2019–2020 | Aquila Basket Trento |
2020–present | Gaziantep |
Career highlights and awards | |
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High school career
Kelly began playing basketball at age four and grew up playing against older competition. Following his freshman season at Chancellor High School in Fredericksburg, Virginia, he transferred upon his mother's advice to Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, Virginia, due to its superior basketball program and academics. As a senior, Kelly played for Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia, before completing a postgraduate year at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia to gain more recruiting attention. He played for D.C. Assault on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit.[1]
College career
Kelly played college basketball for Wichita State for four years. As a junior, he was named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Bench Team.[2] Kelly averaged 5.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game.[3] As a senior, Kelly averaged 5.6 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, grabbing a school-record 104 offensive rebounds.[4] He became the sixth player in program history to win at least 100 career games.[5]
Professional career
After going undrafted in the 2018 NBA draft, Kelly signed with Russian club Parma of the VTB United League.[4] He played in the 2019 VTB United League All-Star Game.[6] In 26 appearances, Kelly averaged 11 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. On July 11, 2019, he signed a one-year deal with Aquila Basket Trento of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) and the EuroCup.[7] Kelly averaged 10.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1 block per game in the LBA. In March 2020, he fled Italy to return to the United States amid the COVID-19 pandemic.[8] On July 22, 2020, he signed with Gaziantep Basketbol of the Turkish Basketball Super League.[9]
References
- Suellentrop, Paul (December 21, 2014). "Tough love helped push Rashard Kelly to Wichita State". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- Suellentrop, Paul (March 16, 2017). "Rashard Kelly, Zach Brown grow into Wichita State's big dogs on defense". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- Page, Fletcher (March 18, 2017). "No. 2 seed Kentucky-No. 10 seed Wichita State". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- Polakoff, Elliott (July 24, 2018). "Rashard Kelly ready to join Parma Basket". KSN-TV. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- "Kelly leaving his mark at Wichita State". KWCH-DT. January 16, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- "Final All-Star Game Rosters". VTB United League. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- "Trento adds inside presence with Kelly". EuroCup Basketball. July 11, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- Eldridge, Taylor (April 1, 2020). "Former Shocker relives the 'tough decision' to flee Italy amid coronavirus outbreak". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
- Maggi, Alessandro (July 22, 2020). "Rashard Kelly signs with Gaziantep". Sportando. Retrieved August 30, 2020.