Rashard Kelly

Rashard Kelly
Kelly in 2020
No. 1 – Aomori Wat's
PositionSmall forward / power forward
LeagueB.League
Personal information
Born (1995-08-22) August 22, 1995 (age 29)
Fredericksburg, Virginia, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight227 lb (103 kg)
Career information
High school
CollegeWichita State (2014–2018)
NBA draft2018: undrafted
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018–2019Parma
2019–2020Aquila Basket Trento
2020–2021Gaziantep
2021–2022JDA Dijon
2022–2023Tasmania JackJumpers
2023BC Wolves
2023Prometey
2023–2024ADA Blois
2024–presentAomori Wat's
Career highlights and awards

Rashard DaeQuan Kelly (born August 22, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for ADA Blois of the Betclic Élite. He played college basketball for the Wichita State Shockers.

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, Kelly 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 LBA play. In March 2020, he returned to the United States amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

On July 22, 2020, Kelly signed with Gaziantep Basketbol of the Turkish Basketball Super League.[9] Kelly averaged 11.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game.

On July 16, 2021, Kelly signed with JDA Dijon Basket of the LNB Pro A.[10]

On June 21, 2022, Kelly signed with the Tasmania JackJumpers in Australia for the 2022–23 NBL season.[11]

On March 1, 2023, Kelly signed with BC Wolves of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL).[12] He parted ways with the club on July 30, 2023.

On December 16, 2023, he signed with ADA Blois of the Betclic Élite.[13]

On July 31, 2024, Kelly signed with Aomori Wat's of the B.League.[14]

References

  1. ^ Suellentrop, Paul (December 21, 2014). "Tough love helped push Rashard Kelly to Wichita State". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Page, Fletcher (March 18, 2017). "No. 2 seed Kentucky-No. 10 seed Wichita State". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Polakoff, Elliott (July 24, 2018). "Rashard Kelly ready to join Parma Basket". KSN-TV. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  5. ^ "Kelly leaving his mark at Wichita State". KWCH-DT. January 16, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  6. ^ "Final All-Star Game Rosters". VTB United League. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  7. ^ "Trento adds inside presence with Kelly". EuroCup Basketball. July 11, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2020.[dead link‍]
  8. ^ Eldridge, Taylor (April 1, 2020). "Former Shocker relives the 'tough decision' to flee Italy amid coronavirus outbreak". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  9. ^ Maggi, Alessandro (July 22, 2020). "Rashard Kelly signs with Gaziantep". Sportando. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  10. ^ "Rashard Kelly (ex Gaziantep) signs at Dijon". Eurobasket. July 16, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  11. ^ "Tasmania Lock in Import Rashard Kelly". NBL.com.au. June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  12. ^ "BC Wolves signs an American forward". bcwolves.com. March 1, 2023. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  13. ^ "ADA Blois signs Rashard Kelly, part ways with Robert Woodard II". Sportando. December 16, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  14. ^ "【お知らせ】ラシャード・ケリー選手 りそなグループ Bリーグ 2024-25シーズン選手契約合意について" (in Japanese). Aomori Wat's. July 31, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2024.