UAFS Lions Coach Louis Whorton Hall of Fame
Brian Kelleybrew was a promising young basketball player at tiny Lonoke High School when he caught the attention of legendary Westark basketball coach Gayle Kaundart.
As a senior, Kelleybrew was one of the top prep players in Arkansas, earning All-State honors 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.
Kelleybrew was a two-year starter and helped lead the Lions to an 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 an 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.
He was well-respected by his teammates, and his coaches called him the “complete package” for his athletic ability and his dedication in the classroom. After graduating from Westark, he finished his education and playing career at NCAA Division I Lamar University.
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.
