BIO: Brian Kelleybrew was born in Lonoke, Arkansas (USA) and attended tiny Lonoke High School. There he caught the attention of legendary Westark basketball coach Gayle Kaundart.
As a high school senior, Kelleybrew was one of the top prep players in Arkansas, earning All-State honours and a spot on the All-Star Team roster and, under the tutelage of Kaundart, he became one of the top junior college prospects in the country.
He was well-respected by his teammates, with his high school and college coaches calling him the “complete package” for his athletic ability and his dedication in the classroom. After junior college, he finished his education and playing career at NCAA Division I Lamar University.
Brian Kelleybrew made his NBL debut with the Gold Coast Cougars on 30/3/1990. He scored 20 points in his first game.
1990 saw Gold Coast Cougars enter the NBL, playing home games out of Carrara Indoor Stadium. Tom Wiseman was named the team’s first-ever head coach, and his first move was filling his roster with a number of players from state rival club Brisbane. In their inaugural season, Gold Coast boasted four ex-Bullets, veterans Larry Sengstock and Ron Radliff, as well as 1989 Bullets rookie Rodger Smith and early 1980s bench player Mark Kitching.
The team would be led by its imports Leroy Combs (23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.3 blocks) and Brian Kellybrew (14.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists) as well as US born Eric Bailey (17.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.4 assists), who after playing a number of seasons in both the NBL and the state league, had become a naturalised Australian.
Australian Boomers big man Paul Kuiper (15.3 points and 8.7 rebounds), who had been playing for the St Kilda Saints, was also added to the roster.
Radliff (13.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.0 steals) and team captain Sengstock (11.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists) provided the veteran leadership while rookie big man Andrew Goodwin (9.3 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists) also impressed during his first year in the league.
Overall, the team struggled to deliver wins over the league’s more successful team’s and replaced Wiseman with rookie coach Brian Lester mid-way through the season. The Cougars then finished their first NBL season with a record of 9 wins, 17 losses with Combs being named the team’s MVP.
Brian Kelleybrew played one season in the NBL. He averaged 14.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in 25 NBL games.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1990 | 0 | Gold Coast | 9-17 (11) | 25 | 992.0 | 365 | 215 | 131 | 106 | 109 | 31 | 15 | 59 | 84 | 150 | 310 | 48% | 20 | 61 | 33% | 45 | 83 | 54% | 52% | 52% | 25 | Totals | 25 | 992 | 365 | 215 | 131 | 106 | 109 | 31 | 15 | 59 | 84 | 150 | 310 | 48.4% | 20 | 61 | 32.8% | 45 | 83 | 54.2% | 53% | 52% | 25 |
SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1990 | 0 | Gold Coast | 9-17 (11) | 25 | 39.7 | 14.6 | 8.6 | 5.2 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 6.0 | 12.4 | 48% | 0.8 | 2.4 | 33% | 1.8 | 3.3 | 54% | 52% | 52% | 25 | Total | 25 | 39.7 | 14.6 | 8.6 | 5.2 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 6.0 | 12.4 | 48.4% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 32.8% | 0.8 | 2.4 | 54.2% | 53% | 52% | 25 |
POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 25 | 14 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
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Kelleybrew was a two-year starter and helped lead the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith Lions to a impressive 65-10 record. He averaged 14 points and nine rebounds per game. As a sophomore, he guided the Lions to the Bi-State Conference Championship, the NJCAA Region II Tournament Championship and the NJCAA National Championship.
Although listed as a forward on the roster, Kelleybrew was so versatile that he could play any position because of his stellar quickness, ball-handling and perimeter shooting. His jumping ability and physical toughness also made him a extremely effective scorer and rebounder in the paint, too.
Kelleybrew was a defensive juggernaut, too, with the ability to guard any position. The Lions never allowed more than 69 points and held opponents to 50 points or less 19 times. He scored 26 points on 10-of-14 shooting from the field and 6-of-6 shooting from the free-throw line in the NJCAA National Championship as the Lions claimed their first national championship in any sport with a 67-50 win against Lincoln College.
Kelleybrew was named First Team All-Conference and was a member of the All-Region II Team and the NJCAA All-Tournament Team.
During his two seasons with the Cardinals, Kelleybrew shot 55.9 percent from the field, which is the 10th -best shooting percentage in the program’s history.
Whilst we try to source as much information as we can for every player who has ever played in the NBL some information on a player profile may be missing. If you have additional information on a player you'd like us to add to a profile, please send it to us using the enquiry form below.
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POS | TEAM | W | D | L | PTS |
1 | Top Club FC | 21 | 3 | 3 | 66 |
2 | The Reapers | 20 | 4 | 3 | 64 |
3 | Crimson Kings | 19 | 4 | 4 | 61 |
4 | Wind Slayers | 18 | 2 | 6 | 56 |
5 | Deadly Predators | 18 | 2 | 4 | 56 |
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