Kentucky’s Koby Brea Declares for 2025 NBA Draft, Projected 54th Overall Pick
Koby Brea, a graduate transfer who made a strong impact in his lone season with the Kentucky Wildcats, has officially entered the 2025 NBA Draft. According to ESPN’s latest mock draft, released Tuesday, the sharpshooting guard is expected to be selected 54th overall by the Indiana Pacers.
Brea’s journey to the NBA is a testament to perseverance and development. After spending four seasons at Dayton, he transferred to Kentucky, where he embraced a new challenge and quickly became one of the nation’s most efficient perimeter threats.
In the 2024–25 season, Brea played 36 games (starting 16), averaging 11.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. His shooting splits were elite: 47% from the field, 43.5% from beyond the arc, and 91.4% from the free-throw line. He made a three-pointer in all but one game and hit multiple threes in 27 contests, finishing the season with 93 total triples — tied for seventh-most in a single season at Kentucky.
His sharpshooting was crucial to Kentucky’s record-breaking 341 made three-pointers and their No. 7 national ranking in scoring at 84.4 points per game. The Wildcats also featured six players averaging double figures — a first in program history — with Brea’s spacing helping unlock the offense.
Brea shined brightest in key moments. He scored 23 points against No. 6 Florida in the SEC opener, going 7-of-9 from three, and matched that in the NCAA Tournament’s second round with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting versus Illinois. Though Kentucky’s run ended in the Sweet 16, Brea’s leadership and scoring were consistent all year.
Reflecting on his journey, Brea shared his appreciation and optimism: “Every step of my journey has shaped me into the person I am today. While this moment is bittersweet, I’m excited for the next chapter of my life.”
With his shooting and maturity, Brea adds his name to the long list of Kentucky players headed to the NBA, bringing a skill set well-suited for today’s game.