Kentucky guard Koby Brea officially declares for 2025 NBA Draft

Koby Brea is ready to start the next chapter of his basketball career.

Brea announced Saturday he has officially declared for the 2025 NBA Draft. A projected second-round pick in ESPN’s latest mock draft, the fifth-year shooting guard exhausted his college eligibility this past season. He began his career with a four-year run at Dayton before transferring to Kentucky for the 2024-25 season.

“Everybody’s path is different, and I wouldn’t change mine for anything,” Brea wrote on social media. “Every step of my journey has shaped me into the person I am today and I’m truly grateful for all the ups and downs I’ve experienced throughout my college career. While this moment is bittersweet, I’m excited for the next chapter of my life…

“With that being said, I’m proud to announce that I’ll be declaring for the 2025 NBA Draft.”

ESPN has Brea slotted as the 54th overall pick in June’s NBA Draft to the Indiana Pacers. The folks at Bleacher Report have Brea going 52nd overall to the Washington Wizards.

Blessed 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/SYPHdVMnaI

— Koby Brea (@kobybrea) April 12, 2025

Clocking in at 6-foot-7, 215 pounds, Brea’s size and elite outside shooting skills have him on the edge of hearing his name called come draft night. The 22-year-old was mostly a role player across his first three seasons at Dayton (2020-23) but had a breakout campaign in 2023-24 with the Flyers that saw him lead the entire country in three-point percentage at 49.8 percent.

With hopes of putting his name onto a bigger stage, he went into the transfer portal last offseason and was a hot commodity. Kentucky won out, beating out a few Blue Bloods in the process, and Brea immediately became a necessary piece to Mark Pope‘s first Kentucky team.

Brea finished the 2024-25 campaign averaging 11.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 28.1 minutes per outing across 36 games played (16 as a starter). He shot 47 percent from the field, an SEC-leading 43.5 percent from deep on 5.9 attempts per contest, and 91.4 percent from the free throw line. In the second half of the season, the New York native greatly improved his playmaking and defense, developing himself into more than just a three-point shooter.

Folks in the NBA have taken notice. His size and shooting abilities will attract scouts, but Brea possesses other intangibles that could help him get him drafted. The 2025 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 25-26 in Brooklyn, NY.

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