Tre’

Need another reason to make South Carolina senior point guard Tre’ Kelley one of your favorite Gamecocks ever? While Kelley continues to lead South Carolina this season, he is now the leading scorer in SEC action as well. Kelley is averaging 19.6 ppg in SEC play this season. In overall play in the SEC, Kelley is No. 3 with 17.7 ppg and he is fourth with 5.1 apg. In Wednesday night’s 89-95 loss at No. 18 Kentucky (Feb. 7), Kelley scored a career-high 36 points. It was the most points a Gamecock has scored since BJ McKie scored 37 points in the SEC Tournament semi-final win over Ole Miss on March 7, 1998 to put USC in its first-ever SEC Tournament Championship final. The 36 points are the most-ever scored in a regular season SEC game, topping Larry Davis’ 35 points vs. LSU on Feb. 10, 1996.

Kelley is only the fifth player to score 36 or more against UK in Rupp Arena and only the third SEC player in Rupp history to hit that mark. It’s the most an SEC opponent has scored individually in 17 years in Rupp. Ironically, all five opposing players have lost.

36 Plus at Rupp Arena

1. David Robinson (1/25/1987) Navy, 45 points

2. Chris Jackson (2/15/1990) LSU, 41 points

3. Freeman Williams (12/16/1977) Portland State, 39 points

4. Tre’ Kelley (2/78/07) South Carolina, 36 points

Reginald King (2/10/1979) Alabama, 36 points

At Kentucky Kelley was 13-25, including 4-10 from 3 point land and 6-7 from the free throw line. Playing every second of the game he picked up three rebounds and six assists as well. Kelley has scored 20+ points this season eight times and he topped his previous career-high of 29 points at Vanderbilt last season.

The 13 field goals made are the most-ever made by a Gamecock in SEC play. (toping Emmett Hall in 1994 and LeRon Williams in 1998). The 25 attempts top five players 22 attempts.

Kelley’s 1312 career points are No. 19 all-time. He is No. 3 in all-time games played (126), No. 3 in all-time assists (467), No. 3 in all-time 3 point field goals attempted (461), No. 6 in all-time minutes played (3646) and No. 4 in three point field goals made (150).