The Salem Capitals added a big new piece last week, signing former Oregon State University Beaver Kylor Kelley following Kelley’s season with the Raptors 905 of the NBA G League.
At 7-feet, the 25-year old Kelley gives the Capitals some much needed size inside.
“It’s great to have another big man,” Capitals head coach Kevin Johnson Jr. said. “We know that he can defend the basket, that’s going to help and it gives us another offensive threat.”
In his two seasons at Oregon State, Kelley set the school’s all-time mark for blocks with 211, leading the PAC-12 and earning conference All-Defensive Team honors both years. Kelley led the nation in blocks his senior season with 3.45 per game while scoring 11.1 points and grabbing 5.3 rebounds.
Initially out of Gervais High School Kelley attended the former Northwest Christian University, now known as Bushnell University, in Eugene. But he only played 10 games before being dismissed and transferring to Lane Community College.
As a sophomore at Lane, Kelley was named to the Northwest Athletic Conference All-Defensive Team while averaging 9.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.6 blocks per game.
Kelley has played for two G League teams, the 905 Raptors and two stints with the Austin Spurs. He’s also played on two international teams, the London Lions of the British Basketball League and the Bakken Bears, a Danish team in the Basketligaen, the top tier league in Denmark.
In his first two games with the Capitals, Kelley is averaging 16.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocks per game.