IRVING, Texas – One of the biggest reasons for Marshall Basketball’s turnaround in the 2015-16 season has been the 6-foot-8, 259-pound presence of senior James Kelly.
On Monday, Kelly became the first Thundering Herd player to be named First Team All-Conference USA.
Kelly has been a dominant force throughout the season for the Herd, which earned the third seed in the C-USA Tournament with its 108-106 win over Southern Miss on Saturday. Kelly registered 14 double-doubles and was the only player in the league ranked in the top three in points (20.5 per game) and rebounds (9.8 per game).
“To say James had a great year is an understatement,” Herd coach Dan D’Antoni said. “He helped lead the turnaround of this team. Congratulations to him.”
Against Southern Miss on Saturday, he became the second player in Marshall history to record at least 600 points and 300 rebounds in a single season, joining Herd Hall-of-Famer Russell Lee who did it as a junior (1970-71) and as a senior (1971-72). Entering the C-USA Tournament, Kelly has 639 points and 307 rebounds.
Kelly has been an integral part of Marshall reaching a program-record 12 conference wins this year.
He led the league’s defensive rebounding statistic with 8.1 per game, ranking No. 9 in among Division I men’s basketball players. Against Charlotte on Feb. 18, he posted Marshall’s first 20/20 game in 43 years with 27 points and 23 rebounds. His 23 boards are the second-most in a single game by a 2015-16 D-I player.
He led the league’s defensive rebounding statistic with 8.1 per game, ranking No. 9 in among Division I men’s basketball players. Against Charlotte on Feb. 18, he posted Marshall’s first 20/20 game in 43 years with 27 points and 23 rebounds. His 23 boards are the second-most in a single game by a 2015-16 D-I player.
2015-16 ALL-CONFERENCE USA FIRST TEAM
Alex Hamilton, Louisiana Tech, Sr., G, 6-4, 194, Chipley, Florida
James Kelly, Marshall, Sr., F, 6-8, 259, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Trey Freeman, Old Dominion, Jr., G, 6-2, 175, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Marcus Evans, Rice, Fr., G, 6-2, 190, Chesapeake, Virginia
Robert Brown, UAB, Sr., G, 6-5, 195, Clermont, Florida
2015-16 ALL-CONFERENCE USA SECOND TEAM
Joseph Uchebo, Charlotte, Sr., C, 6-10, 261, Enugu, Nigeria
Adrian Diaz, FIU, Sr., C, 6-11, 230, Miami, Florida
Erik McCree, Louisiana Tech, R-Jr., F, 6-8. 222, Orlando, Florida
Jeremy Combs, North Texas, So., F, 6-7, 196, Dallas, Texas
Chris Cokley, UAB, So., F, 6-8, 241, Savannah, Georgia
2015-16 ALL-CONFERENCE USA THIRD TEAM
Giddy Potts, Middle Tennessee, So., G, 6-2, 220, Athens, Alabama
Reggie Upshaw Jr., Middle Tennessee, Jr., G, 6-7, 232, Chattanooga, Tennessee
William Lee, UAB, So., F, 6-9, 210, Plantersville, Alabama
Nick Norton, UAB, So., G, 6-10, 175, Bloomington, Illinois
Lee Moore, UTEP, Jr., G, 6-4, 175, Kennesaw, Georgia