Kelsey Rees is shining bright at Oregon State

Australian Kelsey Rees is playing the best basketball of her life in her senior season at Oregon State.

Constant improvement.

That is the goal for athletes across the globe in every sport, but it is easier said than done. It takes hard work, commitment and a willingness to be comfortable getting uncomfortable.

Photo credit: Sophia Gibson

Australian Kelsey Rees is used to the grind, and heading into her senior year and second at Oregon State, she knew she’d be playing a much larger role for the Beavers. So she got to work over the off-season working on post moves, and it’s fair to say it’s paying dividends.

Currently averaging 13.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game, up from 4.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last season, Rees is flourishing and making the most of her opportunities on both ends of the court.

“This offseason I really focused on my postgame. When I was back home, I worked with Kevin Brooks a lot in the gym and on the post moves.” Rees said. “Last year, a lot of what got me on the court and kept me on the court was my ability to knockdown open shots and play some good defence, but I didn't feel as confident going into post ups and going back to the basket as I would’ve liked.

“A lot of what I did in the offseason was finding moves that worked for me; finding your right shoulder fade against the bigger, stronger defender or finding the hook shot against someone that might be a little taller. I just really worked at those to a point where I now feel comfortable and confident getting the ball down low and going to work, especially one-on-one.”