Kentucky Basketball: Wildcats land Dayton transfer Koby Brea

The wheels just keep churning on the Transfer Portal and we’ll still have hundreds of commitments in the coming weeks, even as entrance closes very soon. Today, another big piece of the puzzle was solved as former Dayton wing Koby Brea committed to Kentucky, joining the program under new head coach Mark Pope.

A 6’6 guard originally from Washington Heights, New York, Brea spent the first four seasons of his collegiate career under Anthony Grant at Dayton. He arrived on campus during the pandemic and after the Flyers’ incredible 2020 campaign, developing into a lethal shooter and bench weapon for the program.

He played in 113 games across the last four years with the Flyers and started just 21 of them, growing from a reserve as a freshman to one of the A-10’s top shooters by his senior season. Not only did he relish his role off the bench, he was named A-10 Sixth Man of the Year in both 2022 and 2024.

This past season was certainly his best in a Flyers uniform, averaging 11.1 points and 3.8 rebounds, though it’s the shooting numbers that really stand out. Brea made 49.8% of his 3-pointers on the season, a figure that led the entire nation, while only one other player made more of those shots in the A-10 this season.

Brea was effective throughout a 25-win campaign for the Flyers, including a career-high 22 points in a road win over SMU back in late November. His shooting touch made him a regular part of Dayton’s success, and he had a pair of double-digit games in the Big Dance, with five 3-pointers in their opening round win over Nevada.

Like many prominent players in the nation, Brea opted to enter the Transfer Portal, pursuing a better fit through NIL and other opportunities. His initial list of potential landing spots included virtually every Blue Blood program in the nation, and it’s no surprise at all when you look at his raw shooting numbers.

In the end, Kentucky continued a busy month by adding Brea to their roster. Pope is still gathering pieces for the Wildcats for next season, greatly utilizing the Transfer Portal, but this roster is starting to take shape. A long list of additions includes Lamont Butler, Andrew Carr, Amari Williams, and other talented pieces.

The Wildcats are banking on Brea continuing to develop as a top-level shooter in this sport. There’s no guarantee he can nail nearly half of his 3-pointers for a second-straight season, but he’ll be able to put his game on display in the SEC and could become a fan-favorite in Lexington next year.