Koby Brea dedicated career night to 9-year-old brother on his birthday

“If we’re sitting there after the game and we’ve allowed Koby Brea to shoot eight threes, it’s probably not a good recipe for success.” Those were Todd Golden‘s infamous last words going into his team’s matchup at Kentucky, stressing volume has to stay down for the Wildcats’ best shooters to give Florida a shot in Lexington.

Brea’s final stats? A career-high 23 points on a career-high seven made 3-pointers — with eight attempts.

That’s not a recipe for success, it’s a recipe for disaster.

“Disaster it is!” Brea told KSR. “I didn’t know (Golden said that), but I’m glad I know that now. It’s not the best way to guard us, honestly, but I’ll take it.”

The fifth-year sharpshooter was on a different planet on Saturday, scoring more points (23) than minutes played (22) as he drilled three after three after three, willing Kentucky from down as many as 11 to the 106-100 victory. Some of his attempts were wide catch-and-shoot looks, others were pump fake, behind-the-back, side-step, pump fake daggers.

Fuego had himself a day 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wm8V0S9gSl

— Kentucky Men’s Basketball (@KentuckyMBB) January 4, 2025

“That might have been (the best one of the day). That might have been my best one of the season, to be honest,” Brea said. “That’s the first time I’ve gotten one guy on two pump fakes in one possession, which is pretty impressive to me. My teammates couldn’t stop talking about that one after the game. It was pretty cool.”

Only three other players have scored more points than minutes played against a top-10 opponent: Malik Monk (47), Goose Givens (41) and De’Aaron Fox (39). It’s the second-most 3-pointers over a top-10 opponent behind Monk’s eight makes against North Carolina that day in 2016 — Reed Sheppard and Travis Ford have also hit seven. It was the third-best 3-point shooting effort for a single player against the Gators, Cameron Mills (1998) and Jamal Murray (2016) hitting eight.

Brea joined elite company, to put it lightly.

“Man, I just constantly found myself open, for some reason,” he said. “I haven’t been having that for a while now, but my teammates continued to find me. At the end of the day, I’m just here to do what I do.”

Only three teams have hit more than seven 3-pointers against this Florida team, which entered the day ranked No. 4 nationally in 3-point defense allowing just 26.6 percent on the year. Brea hit that mark personally while hitting 87.5 percent of his looks, Kentucky knocking down 48.3 percent as a team (14-29).

How did he get so many clean looks, and more importantly, how did he hit so many?

“I think the coaches did a really good job showing us how they were going to guard us and how we were going to be able to get some shots,” he said. “So I think it was just sticking to the game plan. Everything we did in practice, we did tonight, and it worked out pretty well. Give credit to the coaches. … Coach does a good job of seeing (who is feeling it) and actually drawing up plays for the guys that are hot.”

And what does it feel like in the moment as a player, taking and making shots at that rate and volume?

“It felt good, honestly. I didn’t really notice what was going on, I don’t really pay too much attention to how many I’ve been hitting throughout the game. To hear it afterward is pretty cool. I think whenever you’re able to accomplish a career-high, it’s always a good feeling. It’s just me doing what I do. My teammates, they give me the utmost confidence and I’m gonna keep shooting.”

Brea was excited for his performance, but he was more excited to get on the phone with his little brother — the person who inspired his big day. It’s his ninth birthday, born on January 4.

That’s why he wears the No. 4, honoring his biggest supporter as he strives to be the best role model he can be.

“It’s my little brother’s birthday today, so that added a little motivation to it. He was watching,” Brea said. “… That’s the reason I wear my number. It’s really emotional for me, just to see him grow up. He loves the game of basketball, too. Every time I go home, he shows me a new move or something. It’s just really cool, being a big brother and to have him look up to you.”

A record-breaking shooting day and a top-10 win is one heck of a birthday present.