BIO: Trey Kell was born in San Diego, California, and starred at St. Augustine High School. As a junior, he led his team to a 29–4 record and captured the CIF Division III state championship. Widely regarded as one of the top shooting guards in the country, Kell was ranked No. 13 at his position by Scout.com and the 79th overall player nationally by ESPN. On October 1, 2013, he verbally committed to San Diego State, choosing the Aztecs over offers from Gonzaga, Oregon, and Vanderbilt. Although his birth name is George Earl Kell III, he goes by “Trey.”

NBL EXPERIENCE

Trey Kell III made his NBL debut with the South East Melbourne Phoenix at 26 years of age. He scored seven points in his first game.

After finishing sixth with a 15-13 record and missing the finals the previous season, South East Melbourne retained coach Simon Mitchell and a core group featuring Mitch Creek, Ryan Broekhoff, Kyle Adnam, Reuben Te Rangi, Dane Pineau, Tohi Smith-Milner and Owen Foxwell. Xavier Munford (to Hapoel Tel Aviv), Izayah Mauriohooho-Le’Afa (to New Zealand), Cameron Gliddon (to New Zealand) and Adam Gibson (retired) departed, while Gary Browne (via Piratas de Quebradillas), Trey Kell III (via Olimpia Milano), Alan Williams (via Lokomotiv Kuban), Junior Madut (via Hawaii), Grant Anticevich (via California) and Anzac Rissetto (via Franklin Bulls) were added.

The Phoenix signed their new shooting guard to a one-year deal after he had finished the previous season in Italy. Williams had initially been recruited to replace Zhou Qi, but Qi’s late decision to return created a twin-towers combination, although his delayed arrival left him unavailable for the opening game.

“The reason I chose Phoenix is that it’s a great opportunity for myself,” he said.

A cracked rib suffered following a preseason clash with Tasmania ruled the new import out of South East Melbourne’s first three games, with Malcolm Bernard (via Bendigo) signed as an injury replacement. Broekhoff and Browne were also injured when the Phoenix opened against Tasmania at John Cain Arena on October 1, but Adnam (30 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) and Creek (23 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal) led South East Melbourne to an 84-79 victory, while Jack McVeigh (20 points and 5 rebounds) was Tasmania’s leading scorer.

Kell III (12.5 points and 3.8 rebounds across 24 games) returned during Round 3 and started 22 of his 23 regular-season appearances before also starting the Play-In Qualifier. His size, shot creation and ability to defend both guard positions provided the Phoenix with another option alongside Browne, while his 43 three-pointers were the most by a South East Melbourne player. A knock to his left knee against Tasmania on January 1 later caused him to miss two games, meaning the cracked rib accounted for his opening three absences and the minor knee injury for the remaining two.

His first season-high scoring performance came against Adelaide at John Cain Arena on October 30, where Kell III (24 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 steal) scored 20 points across the fourth quarter and overtime. Williams (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Broekhoff (17 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) provided support as South East Melbourne collected its fourth consecutive win with a 103-98 overtime victory, while Craig Randall II (28 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) was Adelaide’s leading scorer.

“We go with whatever is working,” he said.

Kell III (24 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 1 steal) matched his season high against Illawarra at John Cain Arena on November 27 as South East Melbourne celebrated Creek’s 300th NBL game. Creek (27 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) and Williams (21 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 steals) helped the Phoenix record what was then the largest victory in club history with a 112-78 win, while Tyler Harvey (17 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) was Illawarra’s best.

His best all-round performance came against Brisbane at Nissan Arena on December 21, where Kell III (17 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) recorded his first NBL double-double. Creek (29 points, 5 rebounds, and 1 steal) and Adnam (14 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists, and 2 steals) led the undermanned Phoenix alongside him as South East Melbourne collected its fifth win from six games with a 104-77 victory, while Nathan Sobey (31 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) was Brisbane’s leading scorer.

Creek (23.4 points and 7 rebounds across 29 games) produced the highest-scoring season of his career, finished third in MVP voting, earned All-NBL First Team honours and won the Phoenix MVP award. Williams (16.6 points and 9.9 rebounds across 28 games) led the NBL in rebounding, while Browne (12.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.5 steals across 20 games) led the league in assists.

Broekhoff (10.3 points and 4.1 rebounds across 20 games) missed nine regular-season games through separate hamstring, hip and groin injuries, while Adnam (8.4 points across 27 games) and Te Rangi (5.1 points and 3 rebounds across 29 games) repeatedly moved into the starting lineup. Qi (6.2 points and 4.4 rebounds across 9 games) returned to China for family reasons during December, creating additional frontcourt opportunities for Anticevich (2.1 points across 18 games) and Rissetto (1.2 points across 5 games), while Madut (4 points across 28 games) and Foxwell (3.8 points and 1.2 steals across 17 games) received larger roles when South East Melbourne’s perimeter rotation was depleted.

The Phoenix rose as high as second on the ladder, but their inability to maintain a healthy starting group contributed to a late drop to fifth. South East Melbourne produced an 11-3 home record but won only four of its 14 games away from home.

South East Melbourne completed the regular season against Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on January 29, where Kell III (18 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1 block), Creek (29 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals) and Browne (14 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists) kept the Phoenix close. Derrick Walton Jr. (22 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) led Sydney to a 111-106 victory, leaving South East Melbourne fifth with a 15-13 record and setting up a home Play-In Qualifier against Perth.

South East Melbourne led Perth by 13 points early in the fourth quarter of the Play-In Qualifier at John Cain Arena, with Kell III (14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block), Creek (24 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal), Browne (20 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block), Williams (16 points, 17 rebounds, 3 steals, and 1 block) and Te Rangi (14 points and 9 rebounds) leading the Phoenix, while Broekhoff (5 points) returned from his groin injury but was limited to 14 minutes. Bryce Cotton (26 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals) scored 20 points during the final quarter, with Brady Manek (24 points) and TaShawn Thomas (13 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists) helping Perth outscore South East Melbourne 41-23 during the period. Kell III made a late three-pointer to reduce the margin to three, but the Wildcats held on and eliminated the Phoenix 106-99.

ADELAIDE 36ERS
2023/24
Following a second underwhelming season under coach CJ Bruton, where Adelaide finished eighth with a 13-15 record, the 36ers made significant changes to their roster. Although imports Robert Franks and Antonius Cleveland were both contracted for a second season, they were allowed to pursue opportunities overseas. Anthony Drmic (to Tasmania), Ian Clark (to Melbourne) and Kai Sotto (to Japan) also departed, while the club decided not to re-sign Daniel Johnson after 13 years in Adelaide.

Former Sixers Jason Cadee (via Brisbane), Isaac Humphries (via Melbourne) and Jacob Wiley returned to provide experience, with Next Star Trentyn Flowers, AFL-to-NBL convert Alex Starling and imports Trey Kell III (via South East Melbourne) and Jamaal Franklin also added. Franklin was released during the NBL Blitz before playing a regular-season game.

Kell III signed a one-year deal after spending NBL23 with South East Melbourne, with his relationship with new assistant coach Craig Simpson and friendship with fellow San Diego State product Franklin helping shape his decision. “I’m not a guy that wants to come in a get a bunch of shots up, if I’m open and feeling good, I will, but at the end of the day I’m coming here to get wins,” Kell said. A left knee injury ruled him out of the entire NBL Blitz, but he recovered in time for the opening round.

Adelaide began its season at Nissan Arena on September 29, where Kell III (9 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists) struggled from the field as Brisbane defeated the 36ers 86-71. Humphries (17 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Wiley (15 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block) led Adelaide, while Nathan Sobey (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists) was Brisbane’s leading scorer.

Kell III (17.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 assists across 25 games) delivered a career-best season and developed into Adelaide’s primary ball-handler, combining his scoring with improved rebounding and playmaking. A calf injury sidelined him for two games during November, but he returned against New Zealand on November 30.

After Adelaide opened 1-4, DJ Vasiljevic (via Washington) joined the team. Vasiljevic (19.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists) provided another high-volume scorer, but the team remained inconsistent and fell to 4-9 after a 94-59 loss in Tasmania, where the 36ers shot 29 per cent from the field and made two of 11 three-pointers. Bruton was dismissed and replaced by assistant Scott Ninnis, who moved Kell III into a more ball-dominant point guard role.

Kell III’s best all-around game came against Illawarra at the WIN Entertainment Centre on December 31, where he produced the only triple-double of NBL24 with 16 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists, and 3 steals without committing a turnover. Humphries (26 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 block) and Vasiljevic (17 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal) provided support, but Justin Robinson (19 points and 3 assists) led the Hawks through a 23-4 run to open the second half as Illawarra defeated Adelaide 91-84.

Kell III (24 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists) made five three-pointers against ladder-leading Melbourne on January 6, including the shot which restored Adelaide’s lead to seven during the final two minutes, as the last-placed 36ers defeated United 100-96 in front of a club-record crowd of 9,564 at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Vasiljevic (30 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists) and Humphries (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 assist) helped Adelaide complete its best performance under Ninnis, while Tanner Krebs (23 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 1 block) led Melbourne.

Kell III’s best scoring game came in Hobart on February 4, where he finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal, but Tasmania defeated Adelaide 109-86 at MyState Bank Arena. Vasiljevic (21 points, 1 rebound, and 3 assists) and Wiley (11 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 blocks) provided support, while Jack McVeigh (26 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block) led the JackJumpers.

Kell III and Vasiljevic formed Adelaide’s leading backcourt, while Humphries (15.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks) produced a career-best season and Wiley (10.5 points and 7.2 rebounds) led the team in rebounding. Kyrin Galloway (5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds), Cadee (5.5 points) and Flowers (5.2 points) provided additional scoring as Adelaide finished second in the NBL for rebounding at 43.5 per game but last in three-point percentage at 29.9 per cent. Humphries won the Mark Davis Trophy as club MVP, Vasiljevic received the Members’ Choice MVP, Galloway was named Most Improved Player, Sunday Dech (4.4 points) won Best Defensive Player and Cadee collected the Coaches Award.

Adelaide finished ninth with a 12-16 record, one win and percentage outside the Play-In Tournament, with Kell III missing the final game through a foot injury as Vasiljevic (25 points and 14 rebounds) and Humphries (15 points and 6 rebounds) led the 36ers to a 76-70 win over New Zealand at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, while Parker Jackson-Cartwright (24 points) led the Breakers.

ILLAWARRA HAWKS
2024/25
Following their return to the semifinals the previous season, where they finished fourth with a 14-14 record before losing the deciding game to Melbourne by six points, Illawarra entered Justin Tatum’s first full campaign without Gary Clark (to Japan), Justin Robinson (to Spain), AJ Johnson (to Milwaukee), Biwali Bayles (to Switzerland) and Kyle Adnam (to Cairns). Tyler Harvey, Sam Froling, Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, William Hickey, Hyunjung Lee, Lachlan Olbrich, Mason Peatling, Todd Blanchfield and Daniel Grida returned, while Tatum added Trey Kell III (via Adelaide), Darius Days (via Rio Grande Valley), Zac Triplett (via Melbourne) and Brad Ballinger (via Illawarra NBL1).

The Hawks signed the former Adelaide guard to a one-year deal as their second import after Harvey, giving him a third NBL club following previous stops with South East Melbourne and the 36ers. General Manager of Basketball Mat Campbell said, “Trey is a player that we have followed closely over the past two seasons, and we are thrilled to welcome him to our squad for the upcoming season. With a majority of our NBL24 team returning, we prioritised a guard that has NBL experience, and Trey will add another weapon to our perimeter play in Coach Tatum’s system.”

Illawarra opened the season at HoopsFest on September 21 with a 102-75 win over Cairns, where Kell (9 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) helped the Hawks begin the campaign with a dominant victory, with Days (20 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Froling (19 points and 8 rebounds) leading the support while Tanner Groves (19 points and 7 rebounds) was Cairns’ best.

Kell (17.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists across 25 games) gave Illawarra another experienced ball-handler who could create his own shot, defend bigger guards and share control of the offence with Harvey (17.9 points, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals), forming the Hawks’ two leading offensive weapons.

His first major performance came in Illawarra’s home opener against Brisbane on September 27, where Kell (30 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal) shot 11-of-20 from the field and set an NBL career high at the time as the Hawks improved to 2-0 with a 113-101 win. Froling (16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals) and Lee (15 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) provided support, while Keandre Cook (17 points and 3 steals) was Brisbane’s leading scorer.

A back injury suffered against Melbourne on October 24 sidelined Kell for four games before he returned against Adelaide on November 10.

His best regular-season performance came in the rematch with Perth on December 22, where Kell (31 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists) shot 10-of-16 from the field and made four three-pointers as Illawarra dismantled the Wildcats 120-88. Froling (18 points and 6 rebounds) and Harvey (15 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists) added support, while Keanu Pinder (16 points and 3 assists) led Perth.

Kell matched his season-high against New Zealand on January 11, scoring 31 points with 24 coming during the first half as Illawarra established a club record with 69 points before half-time and defeated the Breakers 108-100. Days (22 points and 6 rebounds) and Harvey (19 points and 2 steals) supported him, while Matt Mooney (33 points, 4 rebounds, and 8 assists) led New Zealand.

Kobe McDowell-White (via Sunshine Coast) joined the Hawks as a development player in October, while Kuany Kuany (via NCAA) was added as a nominated replacement player in November.

Froling (14.6 points and 7.3 rebounds), Days (11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds), Hickey (8.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists), Olbrich (8.7 points and 3.8 rebounds), Swaka Lo Buluk (7.8 points) and Lee (7.7 points and 3.4 rebounds) gave Tatum one of the league’s deepest rotations. Kell was nominated for the Andrew Gaze Trophy and earned his first All-NBL First Team selection alongside Harvey, while Froling was named to the All-NBL Second Team and Tatum received the Lindsay Gaze Trophy as NBL Coach of the Year. Harvey, Kell and Froling also shared Illawarra’s club MVP award.

A slight groin injury kept Kell out of the final two regular-season games, but Illawarra finished first with a 20-9 record and secured the first regular-season championship in club history.

Illawarra opened the semifinals at the WIN Entertainment Centre with a 101-94 win over South East Melbourne, taking control with a 32-12 third quarter behind Kell (24 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists), Harvey (24 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block) and Blanchfield (16 points and 6 rebounds), while Joe Wieskamp (22 points, 7 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks), Nathan Sobey (17 points and 9 rebounds) and Derrick Walton Jr (15 points and 11 assists) led the Phoenix.

Game two moved to Melbourne, where South East Melbourne levelled the series with a 101-94 win behind Matt Hurt (30 points and 2 blocks), Sobey (25 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Angus Glover (16 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists), while Hickey (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists), Froling (11 points and 5 rebounds) and Kell (6 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals) led Illawarra.

The deciding game returned to Wollongong, where Kell (30 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal) shot 9-of-16 from the field, Blanchfield (28 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal) made a career-high eight three-pointers and Harvey (12 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals) helped Illawarra defeat South East Melbourne 126-96 and reach its first Grand Final since 2017, while Wieskamp (25 points and 5 rebounds), Sobey (19 points and 6 rebounds) and Owen Foxwell (13 points and 3 steals) led the Phoenix.

The Grand Final series opened in Wollongong, where Melbourne overcame a ten-point half-time deficit to defeat Illawarra 96-88 behind Matthew Dellavedova (18 points and 7 rebounds), Chris Goulding (15 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Marcus Lee (14 points, 15 rebounds, and 2 blocks), while Froling (16 points and 7 rebounds), Hickey (14 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2 steals), Blanchfield (13 points and 3 rebounds) and Kell (6 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists) led the Hawks.

Game two moved to John Cain Arena, where Illawarra levelled the series with a 102-100 win behind Harvey (24 points), Froling (23 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Kell (18 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block). Kell blocked Dellavedova late before Harvey made the winning three-pointer with six seconds remaining, while Ian Clark (31 points), Goulding (17 points and 4 assists) and Dellavedova (14 points and 5 assists) led Melbourne.

Melbourne regained control in game three with an 83-77 road win behind Jack White (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals), Clark (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists) and Dellavedova (16 points and 11 assists), while Hickey (12 points), Days (11 points and 4 rebounds) and Kell (10 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists) led Illawarra. Kell suffered a knee injury late in the game, placing his availability for the remainder of the series in doubt.

Kell failed a fitness test and was ruled out of game four, but Illawarra defeated Melbourne 80-71 at John Cain Arena behind Hickey (22 points, 6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 3 steals), Olbrich (13 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists), Harvey (12 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) and Days (9 points and 11 rebounds), while Dellavedova (17 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists), Goulding (17 points and 5 rebounds) and Clark (16 points and 2 steals) led United. The victory came despite Froling (5 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists) suffering a ruptured Achilles during the second quarter.

His best game of the season came in the deciding game in Wollongong, where Kell returned from the knee injury and came off the bench to finish with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists on 9-of-14 shooting as Illawarra defeated Melbourne 114-104. Tatum said Kell had sent him a message before the game stating, “I’m just ready to win the trophy.” Hickey (21 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists), Harvey (16 points and 7 rebounds), Swaka Lo Buluk (16 points) and Olbrich (12 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists) supported him, while Goulding (21 points, 3 assists, and 2 blocks), Shea Ili (20 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals) and White (17 points and 7 rebounds) led Melbourne. Dellavedova (5 points and 7 assists) was awarded the Larry Sengstock Trophy before handing it to Hickey, while the victory delivered Illawarra its second championship, first since 2001, and Kell’s first NBL title.

Trey Kell III played three seasons across three NBL teams. This included the South East Melbourne Phoenix, Adelaide 36ers and Illawarra Hawks. He averaged 15.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 74 NBL games.