Kobe Brea knows the best teams have players willing to sacrifice things and he believes his teammates are all fine with that philosophy. (Larry Vaught Photo)
Kentucky coach Mark Pope still remembers looking at over 1,500 names in the transfer portal and checking analytics to try and find the “perfect 3 man” for his first UK team.
Then one player jumped out at Pope — Dayton transfer Koby Brea.
“He was just perfect for us in so many ways. We are talking about who we need at lead guard, shooting guards, wings and 5 (center) and I said, ‘Guys (coaches) we have got to go get him,’” Pope said.
Brea is a two-time Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year and shot 49.8 percent from 3-point range last year when he averaged three made 3’s per game.
He has played in 113 games with 21 starts and helped Dayton win 85 games the last four years. He averaged 11.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game last season.
“He has the size, length and mobility you want along with being deadly from 3,” Pope said. “He can find ways to get his shot off and we are so glad to have him. He was the most efficient mid-to-high major 3-point shooter in the country last year. He’s a beautiful piece for us.
“He’s from the Dominican Republic. His dad is the salt of the earth. He had an injury-filled third year at Dayton, had surgery after the year ended and spent most of the summer before his fourth year in a wheelchair.
“He had a massive surgery and came back and had one of the most efficient single seasons by a mid or high-major player in over a decade at 1.33 points per possession,” the UK coach said. “He is what we were looking for as a person, teammate, worker and talent. So you’ve got to believe in a guy like that.”
One Response
I don’t understand how someone can shoot 50% from 3 and the coach doesn’t do everything he can to set as many plays as he can for Brea. 11.1 a game for Dayton? Sounds like a Calapari move. Look how he did Reed and Rob.?! Reed shot over 50% and took the 4th most shots on the team. That’s bad coaching.