Harry Kelly (basketball) facts for kids
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1961 (age 63–64) Jackson, Mississippi |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | Wingfield (Jackson, Mississippi) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Texas Southern (1979–1983) |
| NBA Draft | 1983 / Round: 4 / Pick: 81st overall |
| Selected by the Atlanta Hawks | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Harry "Machine Gun" Kelly (born 1961) is a former American basketball player. He was known for his amazing scoring skills in college. He played for the Texas Southern Tigers from 1979 to 1983.
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College Basketball Star
Harry Kelly was born in Jackson, Mississippi. He started playing basketball for Texas Southern University in 1979. He played for four seasons, showing off his incredible talent.
The "Machine Gun" Nickname
A counselor gave Harry Kelly his famous nickname, "Machine Gun Kelly." This was because he scored so many points! He was like a machine gun, constantly hitting the basket.
Setting New Records
During his college career, Harry Kelly scored a total of 3,066 points. This was the sixth-highest score in the history of NCAA Division I basketball. He averaged an impressive 27.9 points per game.
He also grabbed 1,085 rebounds, averaging 9.9 per game. A rebound is when a player gets the ball after a missed shot. Harry Kelly was the first player in NCAA history to score over 3,000 points and get more than 1,000 rebounds!
Awards and Honors
Harry Kelly won many awards for his skills. He was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Player of the Year three times. He also received the John McLendon Award in 1982 and 1983. This award honors the best player at a historically black college.
He was chosen for the All-SWAC team four times. Only two players, Harry Kelly and Alphonso Ford, have achieved this feat.
Life After College Basketball
In 1983, the Atlanta Hawks picked Harry Kelly in the fourth round of the 1983 NBA draft. However, he did not play for the team in the regular season.
After that, he played basketball for a short time in California's Summer Pro League. He also played in Italy's Lega Basket Serie A. In 1984, Harry Kelly started a new career. He began working for the Department of Public Works and Engineering in Houston.
See also
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 60 or more points in a game
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2000 points and 1000 rebounds
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career scoring leaders
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season scoring leaders
