FAIRFAX, Va. – Former UNC Wilmington standout forward/center Amari Kelly will join the George Mason University men's basketball roster this upcoming season, head coach Tony Skinn announced Saturday.
A graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining, Kelly comes to Fairfax after wrapping up a career year for the Seahawks in 2022-23.
"If there's one thing I learned in the Big Ten, it's that when the game slows down, you have to be able to have a presence down low offensively," Skinn said. "Amari brings that. Being able to throw the ball inside and score from the interior is a part of winning. He's a versatile five who can play some four. He's been through it as a fifth-year player and knows the league from his time at Duquesne. His ability in the post will be an important part of our team's makeup this season."
As a senior at UNC Wilmington in 2022-23, Kelly put together his best season to date while averaging career highs in scoring (7.8 ppg), rebounding (5.5 rpg), field goal percentage (.578) blocks (1.0 bpg) and minutes (23.4 mpg). He started all 34 games for the Seahawks and had nine games with 10+ points. That included a 16-point, 9-rebound, 4-block performance in the CAA title game against College of Charleston.
Overall, Kelly saw action in 68 games over his two seasons at UNCW.
He began his career at Duquesne, where he suited up for the Dukes from 2018-21.
In 112 career games, he holds an overall field goal percentage of .529.
A native of Norcross, Ga., Kelly attended Meadowcreek High School, where he averaged 9.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.4 blocks per game to help lead the Mustangs (27-6) to the 2018 Class 7A state championship. It marked the first state title in school history. His 3.4 blocks per game ranked first and 7.0 boards per game third in Georgia Class 7A. He earned Second Team All-Gwinnett County Honors, third team all-state accolades and all-metro honorable mention aplomb. He was ranked the No. 12 player in Georgia by HoopSeen.
Kelly joins guard Jared Billups (Waldorf, Md./Siena) and guard/forward Keyshawn Hall (Cleveland, Ohio/UNLV) in Skinn's 2023-24 incoming class.
