| Robert O'Kelley |
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 | Class:
Senior
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| Hometown:
Memphis, Tenn.
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| High School:
White Station
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| Height / Weight:
6-1 / 185
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| Position:
Guard
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n 2001 John Wooden Award Candidate / n 2000 NIT Most Valuable Player / n 2000 Honorable Mention All-ACC / n 1999 2nd Team All-ACC / n 1999 1st Team USBWA All-District / n 1999 Coaches vs. Cancer All-Tournament / n 1998 ACC Freshman of the Year / n 1998 Freshman All-America
One of the nation’s top guards ... can play point guard (although he never played that position in high school) or the shooting guard spot ... a versatile performer who is a threat to score on any possession ... a terrific outside shooter who has 229 career three-point field goals -- the third-most in WFU history ... also has the ability to penetrate the lane and score or draw the foul (427 career free throw attempts) ... will continue to be a team leader, something he has done his entire career at Wake ... a clutch player who wants the ball in his hands at crucial moments ... one of the most prolific scorers in Wake Forest history ... enters this season with 1,508 career points -- the 14th-most in WFU history ... he was the third-quickest in WFU history to score 1,500 points ... has 82 career starts to his credit ... has scored 20 or more points 27 times in his career ... has scored in double figures 79 times in 96 career games.
Summer, 2000
Played on the NIT All-Stars, a group of college standouts, on a swing through Italy ... joined on that team by Duke’s Casey Sanders, St. John’s’ Reggie Jesse, Indiana’s George Leach and others ... O’Kelley enjoyed some outstanding scoring performances including 21 points against a Belgium team and 16 points versus a team from Austria.
1999-00
Started 34 of 36 games ... saw action at both guard positions ... led the team and ranked seventh in the ACC in three-point field goals per game (67 total, 1.9 pg.) ... ranked second on the team in scoring (13.0 ppg) ... led the Deacons in minutes played (32.8 mpg) and assists (88) ... finished the season on a strong note, earning MVP honors at the NIT after scoring 19 points in the championship game against Notre Dame ... earned honorable mention All-ACC honors ... averaged 15.3 ppg and 33 minutes per game in five NIT contests ... scored 17 points in a regular season loss to Duke ... went 0-for-11 against North Carolina Jan. 12 before erupting for 18 points in the final 14 minutes ... scored 21 points in 39 minutes and hit six three-pointers at Florida State ... scored a season-best 22 points in key non-conference win over Temple ... added 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting in win over Navy and 20 points against Oregon ... scored in double figures in 13 straight games during one stretch ... led Wake in scoring in 17 games ... played 30 minutes or more in all but seven games ... tied a career-high by playing 43 minutes against Davidson.
1998-99
Ranked third in the ACC in three-point field goals (2.7 per game) and seventh in three-point accuracy (37.6%) ... ranked third in the ACC in scoring at 17.5 ppg … led Wake Forest in scoring 18 times and scored in double figures in 26 of 31 outings … top single-game performance was a 36-point effort in NIT loss at Xavier … netted 32 points in win over fourth-ranked Maryland in January, earning ACC "Player of the Week" … gained a second "Player of the Week" award after totaling 28 points in an OT loss at North Carolina and 24 points in a win over NC State ... hit a game-tying three-pointer with just 2.9 seconds left to send the UNC game into overtime … the only Deacon to start all 31 games … led the team in assists (63) and minutes played (35.0 per game) … tallied 24 points in the season opener vs. Illinois and was named to the all-tournament team at the Coaches vs Cancer Classic ... other 20-point outings came vs Davidson (24), at Virginia Tech (22) vs ETSU (21), vs UNCG (20), vs Duke (22) at NC State (21) and vs Georgia Tech (25) … scored his 1,000th career point in NIT win over Alabama ... became just the third sophomore in WFU history to score 1,000 points (Rodney Rogers and Dickie Hemric are the others).
1997-98
Played in all 30 games ... led the team in scoring (16.6 ppg), free throw shooting (80.6%), three-point accuracy (42.1%) and three-pointers (77) … ranked in the top 10 in the ACC in all four of those categories -- 8th in scoring, 4th in FT%, 3rd in 3pt% and 2nd in three-pointers per game ... recorded the top scoring average by a Wake Forest freshman ever in ACC play, and the highest at Wake since Dickie Hemric in 1953 (16.6 ppg) … only the 12th freshman in ACC history to lead his team in scoring … scored in double figures in his first game as a Deacon, netting 17 in win over VMI … first noteworthy performance came in third contest against Georgetown in "Tipoff Classic" when he tallied 25 points … was 8-of-14 from the floor (4-of-6 on threes) and 5-of-5 at the line and hit the game-winning jumper with 6.9 seconds remaining in that 56-54 thriller … stepped up in road win at Davidson, scoring 11 of his game-high 18 points in final 5:38 to lead a Wake rally from behind … that game also was the first of 21 straight contests in which he scored double figures ... started for the first time December 22 vs. Radford and scored a team-high 18 points in 23 minutes … totaled 29 points in loss at Virginia (25 in the 2nd half); 25 at home against North Carolina (20 in 1st half); and a season-high 31 in huge road victory over Maryland (20 in 1st half) … that 31-point performance equaled the 2nd-highest single-game scoring effort by a Wake Forest freshman in an ACC game (Chris King had 34 vs. NC State and 31 vs Duke in 1989) … overall, netted 20 or more points eight times and was in double figures in 27 of 30 contests … was named "ACC Rookie of the Week" four times (more than any other player) … led Deacs in scoring 18 times.
High School
Led White Station High School to a city league championship, district title and 23-7 record in 1997 … averaged 29.6 ppg, shooting 49% from the floor and 74% from the line … chosen to all-state squad, all-Memphis all-star team, and was honorable mention All-American as selected by USA Today … started all four years on the White Station varsity for coach Terry Tippett … established a new career scoring record at the school with more than 2,400 points during those four seasons … a first team all-state pick as a junior when White Station advanced to the state semifinals … received honor from his high school by having his jersey retired … that recognition was one of his biggest thrills of his athletic career … played on two national championship AAU teams on the 13- and 15-year-old levels … turned in an outstanding effort in Tennessee-Georgia all-star contest in the summer of '97, scoring a game-high 34 points to lead his team to a victory in OT … an honor roll student.
Personal/ Miscellaneous
Committed to Wake Forest in November of 1996 … two of his biggest thrills in sports came when he recorded a single-game high of 55 points vs. Ridgeway High during his senior year and recorded 45 points, 10 boards and nine assists in one game as a junior … can bench press 310 pounds ... will turn 22 years old during the season (12/13/78).
O’KELLEY’s Career Statistics
| Season | G | GS | MP | MPG | FG | FGA | PCT | 3PT | 3PA | PCT | FT | FTA | PCT | REB | AVG | PF-DQ | AS | TO | BS | ST | PTS | AVG |
| 1997-98 | 30 | 19 | 888 | 29.6 | 154 | 369 | .417 | 77 | 183 | .421 | 112 | 139 | .806 | 63 | 2.1 | 47-0 | 53 | 71 | 3 | 19 | 497 | 16.6 |
| 1998-99 | 31 | 31 | 1085 | 35.0 | 172 | 427 | .403 | 85 | 226 | .376 | 115 | 162 | .710 | 72 | 2.3 | 65-3 | 63 | 79 | 2 | 22 | 544 | 17.5 |
| 1999-00 | 36 | 34 | 1148 | 32.8 | 160 | 451 | .355 | 67 | 224 | .299 | 80 | 126 | .635 | 71 | 2.0 | 49-0 | 88 | 70 | 0 | 20 | 467 | 13.3 |
| Total | 97 | 84 | 3121 | 32.5 | 486 | 1247 | .390 | 229 | 633 | .362 | 307 | 427 | .719 | 206 | 2.1 | 161-3 | 204 | 220 | 5 | 61 | 1508 | 15.7 |
O’KELLEY Game-By-Game 1999-00 *started
| OPPONENT | MP | FG-A | 3P-A | FT-A | O-D-R | PF | AS | TO | BS | ST | PTS |
| CAMPBELL | *21 | 3-11 | 1-6 | 2-2 | 0-0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
| at Navy | *27 | 8-11 | 2-2 | 2-2 | 0-1-1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| MD. E-SHORE | *26 | 2-7 | 1-4 | 2-2 | 0-1-1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| WISCONSIN | *35 | 5-15 | 1-6 | 0-3 | 1-1-2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| TEMPLE | *35 | 7-14 | 4-8 | 4-5 | 0-2-2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 22 |
| vs. Georgia | *38 | 5-15 | 3-9 | 4-4 | 0-1-1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 17 |
| UNCG | *34 | 2-8 | 1-4 | 5-8 | 0-1-1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| HIGH POINT | *21 | 5-11 | 3-4 | 1-1 | 2-0-2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| at Arkansas | *34 | 5-12 | 2-8 | 3-6 | 1-2-3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| vs. Oregon | *34 | 7-17 | 2-7 | 4-5 | 0-2-2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 20 |
| vs. Ohio | *48 | 5-19 | 1-6 | 4-6 | 1-2-3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 17 |
| vs. Villanova | *31 | 5-16 | 1-7 | 1-1 | 0-4-4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| FLORIDA STATE | 31 | 8-14 | 3-7 | 1-1 | 0-1-1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| at Clemson | *38 | 4-13 | 3-7 | 4-8 | 0-1-1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 15 |
| N. CAROLINA | *38 | 6-18 | 2-8 | 4-7 | 0-3-3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 18 |
| at NC State | *39 | 6-17 | 2-9 | 1-1 | 0-1-1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| at Maryland | *26 | 1-9 | 0-0 | 2-2 | 0-2-2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| DUKE | *33 | 7-18 | 1-6 | 2-2 | 1-1-2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| at Georgia Tech | *34 | 5-14 | 2-7 | 4-6 | 0-3-3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| VIRGINIA | *39 | 5-16 | 3-8 | 3-5 | 0-2-2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| at Davidson | *43 | 5-16 | 4-11 | 1-4 | 0-2-2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| at Florida State | *39 | 7-22 | 6-15 | 1-2 | 2-2-4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| CLEMSON | *34 | 3-9 | 1-4 | 6-9 | 0-1-1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 13 |
| at North Carolina | *35 | 6-17 | 2-9 | 1-2 | 2-2-4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| NC STATE | *34 | 3-8 | 2-4 | 1-6 | 0-2-2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| MARYLAND | *30 | 1-9 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 0-0-0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| at Duke | *30 | 2-10 | 0-4 | 0-0 | 0-2-2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| GEORGIA TECH | 32 | 3-10 | 2-7 | 3-4 | 1-3-4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| at Virginia | *23 | 2-5 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 1-1-2 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| vs. North Carolina | *31 | 4-10 | 1-4 | 0-1 | 0-2-2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| vs. Duke | *29 | 5-10 | 0-2 | 2-2 | 0-1-1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| at Vanderbilt | *29 | 2-10 | 0-7 | 0-0 | 1-0-1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| NEW MEXICO | *34 | 3-12 | 2-7 | 6-9 | 0-2-2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| vs. California | *32 | 6-10 | 4-8 | 2-6 | 0-3-3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
| vs. NC State | *32 | 1-5 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 2-1-3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| vs. Notre Dame | *30 | 5-13 | 5-11 | 4-4 | 0-3-3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 19 |
Career Highs
POINTS
36 vs. Xavier
(Mar. 15, 1999)
REBOUNDS
5, four times
ASSISTS
6, three times
STEALS
3, four times
BLOCKED SHOTS
1, five times
FIELD GOALS
13 vs. Xavier
(Mar. 15, 1999)
FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS
22 vs. Xavier
(Mar. 15, 1999)
FREE THROWS
14 vs. Maryland
(Jan. 31, 1999)
FREE THROW ATTEMPTS
17 vs. Maryland
(Jan. 31, 1999)
3-POINT FIELD GOALS
6, three times
3-POINT FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS
15, two times
MINUTES PLAYED
48 vs. Ohio
(Dec. 29, 1999)
O’Kelley Info
FULL NAME: Robert Carolton O’Kelley, Jr.
MAJOR: Sociology
BIRTHDATE: Dec. 13, 1978
BIRTHPLACE: Memphis, TN
PARENTS’ NAMES: Robert and Lovie O’Kelley
HIGH SCHOOL COACH: Terry Tippett
Up Close
FAVORITE TV SHOW: Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
FAVORITE MOVIE: Five Heartbeats
FAVORITE CARTOON CHARACTER: Bugs Bunny
IF I LOST ALL POSSESSIONS BUT ONE, I’D KEEP: My Bible
SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT ME: I once hit a tree with my mother’s car
MY GREATEST MOMENT IN SPORTS WAS: Scoring 55 points in one game as a senior in high school
THE PERSON WHO INFLUENCED MY LIFE THE MOST: Martin Luther King, Jr., because he stood up for what is right
BEFORE EVERY GAME, I DO THIS : Pray
