Kelley and Averbuck Commit to Wyoming
LARAMIE, Wyo. (May 6, 2015) – University of Wyoming coach Larry Shyatt announced Wednesday two walk-ons have committed to join the Cowboy men’s basketball program. Cody Kelley of Gillette, Wyo., and Sam Averbuck of Santa Rosa, Calif., will begin their UW careers during the 2015-16 academic year. Both will have four years of eligibility with the Pokes after spending 2014-15 at prep schools.
“Every member of our basketball family plays an integral role, as we are always looking for student-athletes who are going to make us better both on and off the court,” Shyatt said. “We are excited about these two young men and their families joining our program. Specific to Cody, we are delighted to have one of Wyoming’s finest on our roster. In Sam’s case, I’ve known his father, Chico, a Cleveland Cavaliers’ scout, for a number of years as he is another basketball dinosaur like myself.”
Cody Kelley – Guard – Gillette, Wyo.
One of the best prep players ever in the Equality State, Cody Kelley is Wyoming’s only two-time Gatorade player-of-the-year winner. He earned the accolade as a junior in 2012-13 and a senior in 2013-14. The 5-11, 185-pound guard spent last season at Elev8, a prep school in Delray Beach, Fla.
As a senior at Campbell County High School, Kelley and head coach Bubba Hladky led the Camels to a 25-3 overall record and a Class 4A state title. Kelley paced the state in scoring at 24.9 points per game, while adding 4.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.8 steals per contest. He notched a game-high 22 points in a 56-51 win over Kelly Walsh in the state title game. During Kelley’s junior campaign the Camels went 23-4 and advanced to the state tournament’s semifinals. He averaged 20.0 points, 6.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 steals per game, while shooting 61 percent from the field. He finished as the Camels’ all-time leader in points, assists and steals.
In the classroom, Kelley graduated with a 3.98 grade-point average. He is the son of Bruce and Carmin Kelley, while his sister, Jordan, just completed her junior season for Cowgirl basketball.
Sam Averbuck – Guard – Santa Rosa, Calif.
A 6-4, 195-pound guard, Sam Averbuck played for Suffield Academy, a prep school in Suffield, Conn., during the 2014-15 season. He was All-NEPSAC honorable mention, as the Tigers went 17-7 and advanced to the NEPSAC Class A title game.
Averbuck graduated from Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa, Calif., in the spring of 2014. He helped the Vikings to a 24-7 overall record in 2013-14, including 13-1 in league play, as the team advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF Division II state tournament. Averbuck was named to the North Bay All-League First Team, All-Empire and All-YSN, as he averaged 11.1 points per game and shot 50 percent from the field and 49 percent beyond the arc.
Sam is the son of Philip “Chico” Averbuck, who is the Director of International Scouting for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Sam’s grandfather Ned Averbuck played at Cal under legendary coach Pete Newell and helped the Golden Bears win an NCAA championship in 1959.
LARAMIE, Wyo. (May 6, 2015) – University of Wyoming coach Larry Shyatt announced Wednesday two walk-ons have committed to join the Cowboy men’s basketball program. Cody Kelley of Gillette, Wyo., and Sam Averbuck of Santa Rosa, Calif., will begin their UW careers during the 2015-16 academic year. Both will have four years of eligibility with the Pokes after spending 2014-15 at prep schools.
“Every member of our basketball family plays an integral role, as we are always looking for student-athletes who are going to make us better both on and off the court,” Shyatt said. “We are excited about these two young men and their families joining our program. Specific to Cody, we are delighted to have one of Wyoming’s finest on our roster. In Sam’s case, I’ve known his father, Chico, a Cleveland Cavaliers’ scout, for a number of years as he is another basketball dinosaur like myself.”
Cody Kelley – Guard – Gillette, Wyo.
One of the best prep players ever in the Equality State, Cody Kelley is Wyoming’s only two-time Gatorade player-of-the-year winner. He earned the accolade as a junior in 2012-13 and a senior in 2013-14. The 5-11, 185-pound guard spent last season at Elev8, a prep school in Delray Beach, Fla.
As a senior at Campbell County High School, Kelley and head coach Bubba Hladky led the Camels to a 25-3 overall record and a Class 4A state title. Kelley paced the state in scoring at 24.9 points per game, while adding 4.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.8 steals per contest. He notched a game-high 22 points in a 56-51 win over Kelly Walsh in the state title game. During Kelley’s junior campaign the Camels went 23-4 and advanced to the state tournament’s semifinals. He averaged 20.0 points, 6.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 steals per game, while shooting 61 percent from the field. He finished as the Camels’ all-time leader in points, assists and steals.
In the classroom, Kelley graduated with a 3.98 grade-point average. He is the son of Bruce and Carmin Kelley, while his sister, Jordan, just completed her junior season for Cowgirl basketball.
Sam Averbuck – Guard – Santa Rosa, Calif.
A 6-4, 195-pound guard, Sam Averbuck played for Suffield Academy, a prep school in Suffield, Conn., during the 2014-15 season. He was All-NEPSAC honorable mention, as the Tigers went 17-7 and advanced to the NEPSAC Class A title game.
Averbuck graduated from Montgomery High School in Santa Rosa, Calif., in the spring of 2014. He helped the Vikings to a 24-7 overall record in 2013-14, including 13-1 in league play, as the team advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF Division II state tournament. Averbuck was named to the North Bay All-League First Team, All-Empire and All-YSN, as he averaged 11.1 points per game and shot 50 percent from the field and 49 percent beyond the arc.
Sam is the son of Philip “Chico” Averbuck, who is the Director of International Scouting for the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Sam’s grandfather Ned Averbuck played at Cal under legendary coach Pete Newell and helped the Golden Bears win an NCAA championship in 1959.
