Koby Brea continues to earn his title as 'most efficient player in college basketball'

Mark Pope wasn’t lying to the Big Blue Nation when he labeled Koby Brea the most efficient player in college basketball. Through his first two games as a Kentucky Wildcat, Brea has dropped a combined 38 points on 10-12 shooting from beyond the arc.

After going for 18 points on a perfect 4-4 clip from deep in the season-opener, the 6-foot-6 guard one-upped himself during Saturday’s win against Bucknell: 20 points on a 6-8 mark from long range. Coming to Lexington by way of a transfer from Dayton as a coin-flip three-point shooter (49.8 percent in 2023-24), he was expected to light it up from the perimeter.

But to shoot 83.3 percent through his first two games? That’s exceeding all expectations.

“Koby was ridiculous again tonight,” Pope said postgame. “I told you guys all summer he’s the most efficient player in college basketball. He’s a 1.82 points per possession. If you don’t know analytics, that’s sick. That’s crazy. To be a 1.82? It’s pretty fun. He’s just like a maestro. He’s having fun right now and I’m really proud of Koby.”

What makes Brea’s impact even more impressive is the fact that he comes off the bench as a “cold” shooter. While it’s a role he’s familiar with as a two-time Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year during his time at Dayton, to do similar stuff at Kentucky takes a level head. Playing in over 100 college games certainly helps, but he’s also just really, really damn good at shooting the ball.

“Having scouted Koby Brea before, I have not seen him miss twice in a row,” Bucknell head coach John Griffin III said. “And that was very clearly communicated but until you experience it, he’s a professional shooter, make no mistake about it and I think they recruited knowing he’s the best shooter in the nation from a three-point percentage standpoint.”

Brea’s ability to knock down shots is elite, but he’s not forcing any of his looks. They’re all earned and usually come within the flow of the offense. All six of his makes from deep against Bucknell came off an assist: three from Kerr Kriisa, two from Brandon Garrison, and one from Otega Oweh. In an offensive system that prioritizes outside shooting, Kentucky is funneling looks to its best option.

“There’s no secret. I have a great team that is willing to give the ball up,” Brea said postgame on the SEC Network+. “They’re willing to give up a good shot for a great shot… All I could do is pay it back to them.”

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