forehan-kelly gets scholarship

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Santa Margarita's Ryan Forehan-Kelly
Gets Schollie At Cal--(May 15, 2000)

Ryan Forehan-Kelly (6'-5" Fr. G/F) who walked on at Cal this past season has been awarded a full athletic grant in aid for next year. We bumped into Ryan two weeks ago at one of the Rockfish workouts at Santa Monica City College, one of those Saturday things where some Rockfish alums come down to work with some of the guys. Nick Vander Laan was in town that day and he was traveling with Ryan (and his girlfriend) and also brought Ryan's "little" brother Tashaan (6'-1" Jr. SG) who plays for Woodbridge (which will, incidentally get another talented guard transfer from rumors we are hearing, Pat Haddan (6'-2" Jr. PG) from Mater Dei). . . but we digress. . . Ryan let us know about the scholarship at that time and he's truly a deserving player, who has really impressed Ben Braun and the fans with his work ethic and ability to score. The official announcement was made last Wednesday by the school, but better late than never. Here's the official press release:

Former walk-on rewarded for hard work.

May 10, 2000

BERKELEY - Ryan Forehan-Kelly, who started 11 games as a walk-on for Cal this past year, has been awarded a scholarship for the 2000-01 basketball season, head coach Ben Braun announced today.

"I'm glad we had this opportunity to reward Ryan for his loyalty, leadership and dedication to the Cal basketball program," Braun said. "He has shown a strong commitment to the team, and his contributions have been invaluable."

Forehan-Kelly, a 6-5 guard/forward who will be a junior in the fall, saw action in 30 of 33 games in 1999-2000. He averaged 3.8 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting 50.0 percent from the floor and 45.3 percent (24-53) from three-point range.

Forehan-Kelly had his breakout game in a 71-65 win at Oregon State Jan. 15 when he came off the bench for 17 points. He started 11 of the next 17 games, coming on especially strong down the stretch. His best outing came in the regular-season finale at Arizona when he scored 20 points and grabbed seven rebounds. With six three-pointers against the Wildcats, he narrowly missed the school record of seven.

Forehan-Kelly started all three of Cal's NIT games with a high of nine points vs. Georgetown in the second round.

"I feel fortunate that the coaches have given me this opportunity," Forehan-Kelly said. "I'm happy that they've recognized my hard work and have rewarded me for it."

Forehan-Kelly joined the Bears as a walk-on prior to the 1998-99 season. During that year, he appeared in 10 games and scored 11 points, including a pair of free throws in the final minute of Cal's 78-73 victory over Arizona State late in the year.

Forehan-Kelly is the second walk-on to be rewarded with a scholarship under Braun. Last year, Braun gave a scholarship to guard Robbie Jones for his senior season.

With this move, Cal has used 12 out of a maximum 13 scholarships for the 2000-01 season, but Braun indicated he does not expect to add to that total for next year.

As noted, Cal has one scholarship remaining out of the total of 13, and that count is with the recent signings this spring of Machael Lawson (6'-2" Sr. PG/SG) from Alhambra HS in Martinez, who signed an LOI last week, a combo guard who was little heralded during the season but who averaged 24.5 ppg for his high school team. In addition, Cal signed Gabriel Hughes from Bishop Montgomery (6'-10" Postgrad F/C) via a prep school and Saulius Kuzminskas (6'-11" Sr. C) from Vilnius, Lithuania.