Trey Kell

Trey Kell
Kell with the San Diego State Aztecs in 2014
No. 3 – Illawarra Hawks
PositionPoint guard / shooting guard
LeagueNBL
Personal information
Born (1996-04-05) April 5, 1996 (age 28)
San Diego, California, U.S.
NationalityAmerican / Syrian
Listed height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Listed weight99 kg (218 lb)
Career information
High schoolSt. Augustine
(San Diego, California)
CollegeSan Diego State (2014–2018)
NBA draft2018: undrafted
Playing career2018–present
Career history
2018Igokea
2019Moncton Magic
2019Hong Kong Eastern
2021Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski
2021–2022Pallacanestro Varese
2022Olimpia Milano
2022–2023South East Melbourne Phoenix
2023–2024Adelaide 36ers
2024Bahçeşehir Koleji
2024–presentIllawarra Hawks
Career highlights and awards

George Earl "Trey" Kell III (born April 5, 1996) is an American-Syrian professional basketball player for the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He has previously played in Canada, Bosnia, Poland and Hong Kong. He played college basketball for the San Diego State Aztecs.

In international competition, he competes for the Syria national basketball team, since obtaining a Syrian passport in 2020.

Early life

Kell was born in San Diego, California,[1] and attended St. Augustine High School. As a junior, he led St. Augustine to a 29–4 record and a CIF Division III state title. He was ranked the No. 13 shooting guard in his class by Scout.com, and the 79th ranked player overall by ESPN. On October 1, 2013, Kell verbally committed to San Diego State, picking the Aztecs over offers from Vanderbilt, Gonzaga and Oregon.[2]

College career

As a freshman, Kell posted 5.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game and was named to the Maui Invitational all-tournament team.[3] He helped San Diego State reach the NCAA Tournament as freshmen and beat St. John's in the first round.[4] Kell averaged 12.6 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game while starting all 38 games as a sophomore. He was named to the First Team All-Mountain West Conference.[5] As a junior, Kell was named to the Third Team All-Mountain West Conference.[6] He was also named (NABC) All-District 17 Second Team for the second straight season. Kell led the Aztecs in points per game (13.2), assists (2.9), steals (1.4) and free-throw percentage (.766) as a junior.[7]

Kell had an injury-shortened senior season, missing time with an ankle injury suffered in a January 27, 2018, loss to UNLV. When he returned, the team went on a nine-game winning streak. Kell scored a career-high 28 points in the 82–75 victory over New Mexico for the Mountain West championship to send the team to the NCAA Tournament. He was named Mountain West tournament MVP.[8] As a senior, he averaged 10.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.[9]

Professional career

On July 31, 2018, Kell officially started his professional career by signing with the Bosnian team Igokea. He chose Igokea over offers from nine other European teams.[9] Kell was released a month later due to a knee injury and joined the Moncton Magic of NBL Canada midway through the season. He was named MVP of the Finals as the Magic defeated the St. John's Edge in the clinching game behind 41 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals from Kell.[10] In September 2019 he signed with the Eastern Long Lions of the ASEAN Basketball League.[11] In three games, Kell averaged 31.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.0 block per game. He left the team on January 4, 2020.[12]

On January 11, 2021, Kell signed with Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski of the Polish Basketball League (PLK).[13]

On July 14, 2021, Kell signed for Pallacanestro Varese of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).[14] He averaged 15.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.

On January 2, 2022, Kell signed with Olimpia Milano.[15][16] On June 27, 2022, he parted ways with the Italian club.

On July 14, 2022, Kell signed with the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Australia for the 2022–23 NBL season.[17] He missed the start of the regular season after suffering a broken rib during pre-season.[18][19]

On July 31, 2023, Kell signed with the Adelaide 36ers for the 2023–24 NBL season.[20] He was shifted from playing as a shooting guard to point guard midway through the season.[21]

On February 21, 2024, Kell signed with Bahçeşehir Koleji of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL).[22]

On June 28, 2024, Kell signed with the Illawarra Hawks for the 2024–25 NBL season.[23]

National team career

On October 26, 2020, Kell agreed with the Syrian Basketball Federation to represent the Syria national basketball team in international competitions.[24] He made his debut on November 28, 2020, when he recorded 35 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in a game against Qatar in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualification.[25]

References

  1. ^ "Trey Kell is coming to Olimpia: "Grateful for the opportunity, excited to get started"". Olimpia Milano. January 4, 2022. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  2. ^ Zeigler, Mark (October 1, 2013). "St. Augustine's Kell commits to SDSU". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  3. ^ Spencer, Chris. "Las Vegas Invitational Field Announced". Continental Tire. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  4. ^ Zeigler, Mark (March 2, 2018). "Senior Night: Kell, Pope are remaining pieces of SDSU's star recruiting class". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  5. ^ "SDSU Men's Basketball Picked to Win Mountain West". San Diego State Aztecs. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  6. ^ "Mountain West Announces 2016–17 Men's Basketball All-Conference Team" (Press release). Mountain West Conference. March 7, 2017. Archived from the original on March 8, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  7. ^ Gayle, Austin (March 23, 2017). "Aztecs' Trey Kell named to NABC All-District 17 Second Team for second consecutive year". Fox Sports. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  8. ^ Anderson, Mark (March 10, 2018). "Trey Kell sparks San Diego State to Mountain West title, 82–75". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Zeigler, Mark (July 31, 2018). "SDSU's Trey Kell signs with European team". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  10. ^ Zeigler, Mark (May 16, 2019). "Aztecs notes: Jalen McDaniels at draft combine, Trey Kell is MVP of Canadian finals". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  11. ^ "Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions land Trey Kell, ex Moncton M." USBasket. Retrieved December 23, 2019.
  12. ^ "Trey Kell leaves Hong Kong Eastern Long Lions". Asiabasket. January 4, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  13. ^ "Trey Kell dołącza do Arged BMSlam Stali" (in Polish). plk.pl. January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  14. ^ "TREY KELL É IL NUOVO PLAYMAKER DELLA OPENJOBMETIS". pallacanestrovarese.it (in Italian). 14 July 2021.
  15. ^ Centenari, Andrea (January 2, 2022). "Milano adds Kell III to their roster". Eurobasket. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  16. ^ "Interview with Trey Kell". olimpiamilano.com.
  17. ^ "South East Melbourne Signs Trey Kell". NBL.com.au. July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  18. ^ "Malcolm Bernard Signs as Injury Replacement Player". semphoenix.com.au. September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  19. ^ "Soldiers Set To Return For Breakers Clash". semphoenix.com.au. October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  20. ^ "Swingman Kell signs on for NBL24 season". Adelaide36ers.com. July 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  21. ^ Fletcher, Dale (January 6, 2024). "Kell: 'This team has a lot of pride'". Adelaide 36ers. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  22. ^ "Trey Kell joins Bahcesehir Koleji". Sportando. February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  23. ^ "Hawks land on Import Guard Trey Kell III". Hawks.com.au. June 28, 2024. Retrieved June 29, 2024.
  24. ^ Madwar, Ahmad (October 26, 2020). "Trey Kell to play with Syrian National Team". Asia-basket.com. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  25. ^ "From Juan to Trey: Who was the best player from the Asia Cup Qualifiers bubbles?". FIBA.basketball. Retrieved 17 March 2022.