The school's basketball team was the nation's top-ranked team in 1980, going undefeated and winning the national championship, with Kelley playing alongside future NBA players Jay Humphries and Ralph Jackson.

[6] Upon leaving Colorado, Kelley had try-outs with a number of CBA teams and the Denver Nuggets of the NBA.

[2] In 1985, Kelley moved to Australia and joined the Bankstown Bruins of the National Basketball League (NBL).

[7] Kelley continued on with the franchise in 1986, now known as the West Sydney Westars, and helped them reach the playoffs.

[12] He was named the SBL's Most Valuable Player in 1992[13] and was player-coach of the Wolves' 1993 championship team.

[12] Kelley's final season came in 2002, averaging 26.3 points in 23 games for the East Perth Eagles.

[12] He is the league's all-time leading scorer,[17] and in 2013, he was named in the SBL's 25th Year All Star Team.