Kansas State University Athletics
SE: How Curtis Kelly Came Home to K-State Men’s Basketball
Aug 31, 2021 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By: Austin Siegel
It began with him and Martavious Irving, before Jacob Pullen decided the Wildcats were going to do this before every game. Music bumping. Tunnel packed. Cue the dance moves.
"We were just dancing around in the tunnel, but it was important for us to be playful with each other, because when we stepped out on the floor, we were warriors," Curtis Kelly said. "We liked to joke around and have a good time, but once the lights came on, it was all business."
He lived through some of the most memorable moments in K-State Men's Basketball history, but in retelling those stories now, Kelly reveals a mentality that should fit right in on the Bramlage Coliseum sideline this season.
Kelly will return to K-State Men's Basketball as a Graduate Student Manager in 2021, after an All-Big 12 career in Manhattan and a decade playing professionally in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Kelly started almost 60 games at K-State in two seasons with the Wildcats, after transferring from UConn in 2008. His role on the Elite Eight team in 2010, and the double OT win over Xavier to punch K-State's ticket, have already secured Kelly a spot in the program's all-time pantheon.
His return in 2021 is about what's next.
"I told [Shane Southwell] if a GA position became available to give me a holler. I think he was a little questionable at first, like, 'Are you sure you're ready to give up the game?' But I was ready if the opportunity came up," Kelly said. "Speaking with Bruce [Weber] helped me a lot and it made my decision kind of final."
Kelly never played under Weber and the current coaching staff at K-State, but had been invited to summer basketball camps in Manhattan as a counselor throughout his professional career.
He also connected with K-State alums through The Basketball Tournament, reuniting every summer to play on Team Purple & Black, a TBT squad comprised of former Wildcats.
"Coach Weber is a phenomenal person. He wants to see people that he thinks are talented grow," Kelly said. "I stayed in touch with most of the guys, even those that I didn't play with like [Thomas Gipson], we competed against each other and always kept it family."
When his professional career took him to the other side of the world, Kelly still followed the 'Cats.
"They gave me a big opportunity coming from UConn," Kelly said. "I have a real deep love for K-State, the fans, the coaches, both Frank [Martin] and Bruce, and my teammates. I love basketball, so I definitely wanted to follow the young guys coming up through K-State."
The connection to Southwell, a teammate during his K-State career, is another unique aspect of Kelly's return.
Both Kelly and Southwell are New York City natives and former stars at Rice High School, the Harlem prep powerhouse. It's the same neighborhood K-State guard Markquis Nowell calls home.
"Both Frank and Bruce did a great job recruiting and taking care of New York guys," Kelly said. "Going from New York to Manhattan, Kansas is a totally different atmosphere, but they really nurture guys and get guys to stay focused while they're here."
Ten years after he suited up for the Wildcats, it's the mental side of the game where Kelly might have the most to offer. He pointed to the adjustments he needed to make after transferring to K-State and as a professional player throughout his career.
"Playing overseas, I had to stay focused because I didn't have coaches or parents to stay on me. It was all me trying to build and trying to win," Kelly said. "That hunger to win was taught to me at K-State."
Of course, you can't talk about Kelly and the "mental side" of college basketball without mentioning what happened at Nebraska in 2011.
With a few minutes left in a road win over the Huskers, Kelly fouled out. The student section at the Devaney Sports Center responded with a time-tested taunt, narrating Kelly's steps to the bench - "left, right, left, right" - in anticipation of a loud "sit down" when he reached the bench.
But Kelly didn't sit down - not yet.
"I was upset. There had been some bad calls all game," Kelly said. "I thought to myself, 'OK, this guy is about to go to the line. Let me test the crowd.' And the rest is history."
Kelly waited to take a seat until the Nebraska player began his shooting motion at the line, the crowd roared "sit down" and the free throw? It was a complete brick.
The footage is grainy, but there are players on the Nebraska bench with their head in their hands. Kelly looks at the student section in disbelief. It's a vintage college basketball moment.
"We were dying, trying to hold it together without getting caught by Frank," he remembers.
The next time Kelly is on the K-State sideline, it's going to be by design. There aren't many Graduate Assistants with a more intimate connection to their college basketball program.
But not many GAs have a resume quite like Curtis Kelly.
"With a team as young and talented as this group, they're going to take some bumps and bruises and get punched in the mouth a couple of times," he said. "But if they can continue to grow and get better, this team can be how it was my junior year...you have to put the work in to prove it, but I think the nation is going to start paying attention to K-State."
It began with him and Martavious Irving, before Jacob Pullen decided the Wildcats were going to do this before every game. Music bumping. Tunnel packed. Cue the dance moves.
"We were just dancing around in the tunnel, but it was important for us to be playful with each other, because when we stepped out on the floor, we were warriors," Curtis Kelly said. "We liked to joke around and have a good time, but once the lights came on, it was all business."
He lived through some of the most memorable moments in K-State Men's Basketball history, but in retelling those stories now, Kelly reveals a mentality that should fit right in on the Bramlage Coliseum sideline this season.
Kelly will return to K-State Men's Basketball as a Graduate Student Manager in 2021, after an All-Big 12 career in Manhattan and a decade playing professionally in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Kelly started almost 60 games at K-State in two seasons with the Wildcats, after transferring from UConn in 2008. His role on the Elite Eight team in 2010, and the double OT win over Xavier to punch K-State's ticket, have already secured Kelly a spot in the program's all-time pantheon.
His return in 2021 is about what's next.
"I told [Shane Southwell] if a GA position became available to give me a holler. I think he was a little questionable at first, like, 'Are you sure you're ready to give up the game?' But I was ready if the opportunity came up," Kelly said. "Speaking with Bruce [Weber] helped me a lot and it made my decision kind of final."
Kelly never played under Weber and the current coaching staff at K-State, but had been invited to summer basketball camps in Manhattan as a counselor throughout his professional career.
He also connected with K-State alums through The Basketball Tournament, reuniting every summer to play on Team Purple & Black, a TBT squad comprised of former Wildcats.
"Coach Weber is a phenomenal person. He wants to see people that he thinks are talented grow," Kelly said. "I stayed in touch with most of the guys, even those that I didn't play with like [Thomas Gipson], we competed against each other and always kept it family."
When his professional career took him to the other side of the world, Kelly still followed the 'Cats.
"They gave me a big opportunity coming from UConn," Kelly said. "I have a real deep love for K-State, the fans, the coaches, both Frank [Martin] and Bruce, and my teammates. I love basketball, so I definitely wanted to follow the young guys coming up through K-State."
The connection to Southwell, a teammate during his K-State career, is another unique aspect of Kelly's return.
Both Kelly and Southwell are New York City natives and former stars at Rice High School, the Harlem prep powerhouse. It's the same neighborhood K-State guard Markquis Nowell calls home.
"Both Frank and Bruce did a great job recruiting and taking care of New York guys," Kelly said. "Going from New York to Manhattan, Kansas is a totally different atmosphere, but they really nurture guys and get guys to stay focused while they're here."
Ten years after he suited up for the Wildcats, it's the mental side of the game where Kelly might have the most to offer. He pointed to the adjustments he needed to make after transferring to K-State and as a professional player throughout his career.
Head coach Bruce Weber announces coaching staff additions
— K-State Men's Basketball (@KStateMBB) August 16, 2021
▫️ Nate Michael - Video Coordinator
▫️ Curtis Kelly - Graduate Asst.
▫️ Zack Price - Graduate Asst.
📄 https://t.co/7Gwy4eeje9#KStateMBB x EMAW pic.twitter.com/HBqGo5Qlt2
"Playing overseas, I had to stay focused because I didn't have coaches or parents to stay on me. It was all me trying to build and trying to win," Kelly said. "That hunger to win was taught to me at K-State."
Of course, you can't talk about Kelly and the "mental side" of college basketball without mentioning what happened at Nebraska in 2011.
With a few minutes left in a road win over the Huskers, Kelly fouled out. The student section at the Devaney Sports Center responded with a time-tested taunt, narrating Kelly's steps to the bench - "left, right, left, right" - in anticipation of a loud "sit down" when he reached the bench.
But Kelly didn't sit down - not yet.
"I was upset. There had been some bad calls all game," Kelly said. "I thought to myself, 'OK, this guy is about to go to the line. Let me test the crowd.' And the rest is history."
Kelly waited to take a seat until the Nebraska player began his shooting motion at the line, the crowd roared "sit down" and the free throw? It was a complete brick.
The footage is grainy, but there are players on the Nebraska bench with their head in their hands. Kelly looks at the student section in disbelief. It's a vintage college basketball moment.
"We were dying, trying to hold it together without getting caught by Frank," he remembers.
The next time Kelly is on the K-State sideline, it's going to be by design. There aren't many Graduate Assistants with a more intimate connection to their college basketball program.
But not many GAs have a resume quite like Curtis Kelly.
"With a team as young and talented as this group, they're going to take some bumps and bruises and get punched in the mouth a couple of times," he said. "But if they can continue to grow and get better, this team can be how it was my junior year...you have to put the work in to prove it, but I think the nation is going to start paying attention to K-State."
Players Mentioned
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