As the Kentucky Wildcats’ season came to an end with a 78-65 loss to No. 3 Tennessee in the Sweet 16, players, especially seniors and graduates, were reluctant to let go of the season. For Koby Brea, however, the end of his time at Kentucky holds a deeper meaning.
Following the game in Indianapolis, Brea expressed his attachment to his Kentucky jersey, saying it would be hard to give it up. For him, the jersey symbolized his journey through basketball and his one memorable season at UK.
“I don’t know who’s in charge of collecting the jerseys, but they’re going to have trouble getting mine back,” Brea said in the postgame press conference. “Every time I walk into the locker room and put on this jersey, it’s surreal. After everything I’ve been through and where I come from, just putting it on is incredibly special.”
Earlier in the locker room, Brea admitted how emotional the moment was for him. “I might not take it off. I might not take it off,” he said. “When I do, it’s a little heartbreaking. I’ve always dreamed of being here, and I’ve been told my whole life that I couldn’t be here. To finally make it and have such a great year with this group—it hurts not finishing the way we wanted.”
For many players like Brea, taking off their uniform marked the end of their time at Kentucky. The finality of leaving behind a team, a fanbase, and a season full of hope weighed heavily on them.
“Being with my brothers, we were all strangers when we first got here. We didn’t have much time to bond, but we made it work. Now, we’re all a big family,” Brea shared.
He also expressed gratitude toward Kentucky’s fanbase. “BBN has been amazing. They made this dream come true for me. Ever since I stepped onto campus, everyone welcomed me with open arms, and they’ve been incredible to me and my family.”
Brea was one of seven transfer players who had a significant impact at Kentucky this season, and his senior year stood out. He finished with a career-high 11.6 points per game, shooting 47% from the field and 43.5% from three-point range. Brea also contributed 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game, continuing his reputation as one of the top three-point shooters in college basketball. This season, he led UK in three-pointers, making 93 of them—averaging 2.6 per game—and ranked among the best in the nation for three-point percentage.
Though the season didn’t end the way he hoped, Brea couldn’t be more thankful for his time at Kentucky. “It’s been everything I’ve wanted and more,” he said. “I’m just really happy with my experience here.”
