Koby Brea, has a lot going for him on the offensive end. He is a 6'6" wing, and has garnered attention for his exceptional three-point shooting. After transferring from Dayton, where he led the NCAA with a 49.8% three-point shooting percentage on 6.1 attempts per game last year, Brea has continued his sharpshooting prowess at Kentucky, currently hitting over 45.7% from beyond the arc, but nearly 53% at home. We know he is a sharpshooter, but is he a defensive stopper?
Defensively, Brea's 6'6" frame and mobility allow him to guard multiple positions, showcasing his versatility on the court but he struggles to stay in front of his man. Often teams would try and pick on him defensively. Against South Carolina, and in the second half against Ole Miss, Brea stepped the defense up. Something that Mark Pope noticed saying, he was "unbelievable” in his defensive play, continuing, "But Koby was incredible on the defensive end. His gaps were incredible, his digs were incredible. His ball pressure was great—smart, not belligerent"
What this means Kentucky basketball going forward
While advanced analytics from EvanMiya.com currently rate Brea with a -0.62 defensive rating on the season, placing him 144th out of 147 SEC players, the defensive improvement is clear to see. And Brea is aware of it, saying "“I have been working a lot on my mentality and what I need to work on after the last couple of games. I am just trying to set the tone at the beginning that we are going to get better defensively and lock in on that."
If Brea maintains his upward trajectory, he could significantly enhance Kentucky's chances of securing their ninth national title. His combination of sharpshooting and defensive versatility makes him a player to watch as the season progresses. If he can truly become a 3 and D guy, this team has so much potential when everyone is healthy. Will it happen? Fans have 8 games plus the SEC tournament to find out.