Kelly Faris

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Kelly Faris

| image = Kelly Faris UConn.jpg

| width =

| caption = Faris in 2009

| league =

| number =

| team =

| position = Guard

| height_ft = 5 | height_in = 11

| weight_lb = 155

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|1|16}}

| birth_place = Plainfield, Indiana, U.S.

| highschool = Heritage Christian
(Indianapolis, Indiana)

| college = UConn (2009–2013)

| draft_league = WNBA

| draft_year = 2013

| draft_round = 1

| draft_pick = 11

| draft_team = Connecticut Sun

| career_start = 2013

| career_end = 2019

| years1 = {{WNBA Year|2013}}–{{WNBA Year|2016}} | team1 = Connecticut Sun

| years2 = 2013–2014 | team2 = UNIQA Euroleasing Sopron

| years3 = 2014 | team3 = Adelaide Lightning

| years4 = 2016 | team4 = Flying Foxes Post SV Wien

| years5 = 2017 | team5 = Bnot Hertzeliya

| years6 = 2018–2019 | team6 = Breiðablik

| highlights =

Austrian Basketball League champion (2016)
Austrian-Slovak Basketball League champion (2016)
Austrian Cup (2016)
Austrian Cup Final Four MVP (2016)
2× NCAA champion (2010, 2013)
Big East Most Improved Player of the Year (2013)
Big East Defensive Player of the Year (2013)
Big East All-Freshman team (2010)
McDonald's All-American (2009)

| medaltemplates ={{MedalSport | Women's Basketball}}

| wnba_profile = kelly_faris

}}

Kelly Elizabeth Faris (born January 16, 1991) is an American former basketball player. Faris played shooting guard for the Connecticut women's basketball team, and won two national championships in 2010 and 2013. She was on a post-season championship team for five consecutive seasons, including four consecutive high school state championships and two NCAA championship. She was drafted 11th overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2013 WNBA draft.

Early life

Faris is daughter of Bob and Connie Faris. Faris has two older sisters Kristi and Kimmi and one older brother Patrick (Fizzle). She played on the Indiana's Finest AAU team which won the National Championship in 2003 for the 11U division (players age 11 and under).

High school career

Faris played basketball at Heritage Christian high school in Indianapolis, Indiana, where the Eagles had an amazing combined record of 108–8. Faris helped lead the high school to four consecutive IHSAA Class 2A state championships. This accomplishment earned the team a congratulatory resolution from the General Assembly of the State of Indiana. The team was 12–12 in the season before Faris arrived at Heritage Christian. During her junior year, Faris achieved a quadruple-double vs Harding High School Hawks on November 24, 2007, Faris scored 14 points, had 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals and was named MVP of the 2008 state tournament. Faris finished her career as Heritage's High School's all-time leader in rebounds (1,015), assists (526), blocks (108) and steals (493) ranks second among the school's all-time scoring leaders (1,426 points). Faris was named to the all-state first team in 2007, 2008, and 2009.

In addition to basketball, she also participated in volleyball and track, lettering in both sports, and earning all-state honors in volleyball for both 2007 and 2008. She also won national honors in 2007, being named to the 2007 AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships All-American team. She was also an excellent student, earning High Academic Honors as a senior, and being a member of National Honors Society. Faris was selected as a McDonald's All-American. She participated in the McDonald's All-Star game with four points, seven rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocked shots while playing for the East Team in the 2009 game.

College career

File:Kelly Faris with National Championship trophy.jpg

Faris wore number 34, a number worn by her siblings. Faris led UConn to a 143–11 record over her four-year career, which included four Final Four appearances and two National Championships. She is the second player in Connecticut basketball history to record more than 1,000 points, 750 rebounds, 500 assists and 250 steals; the other player to reach this milestone was Maya Moore. In her senior year, Faris was named the Big East Defensive player of the year, and shared honors for the Big East most improved player of the year. She finished her career ranking 40th in points (1,109), 6th in steals (294), and 11th in assists (525).

College statistics

class="wikitable"

! Year

! Team

! GP

! Points

! FG%

! 3P%

! FT%

! RPG

! APG

! SPG

! BPG

! PPG

2009–10

|Connecticut

|39

|158

|38.2

|27.0

|77.5

|3.7

|2.1

|1.2

|0.3

|4.1

2010–11

|Connecticut

|38

|296

|42.5

|30.9

|75.6

|6.7

|3.7

|1.8

|0.6

|7.8

2011–12

|Connecticut

|38

|256

|43.7

|31.5

|78.8

|5.2

|4.3

|2.1

|0.6

|6.7

2012–13

|Connecticut

|39

|399

|53.0

|41.5

|75.0

|7.1

|3.0

|2.5

|0.5

|10.2

Career

|Connecticut

|154

|1109

|44.4

|32.7

|76.7

|5.7

|3.3

|1.9

|0.5

|7.2

colspan="12"|Sources:{{Cite web|url=http://web1.ncaa.org/stats/StatsSrv/careerplayer|title=NCAA Statistics|website=web1.ncaa.org|access-date=2016-04-15}}

Professional career

Faris was selected 11th overall in the 2013 WNBA draft by the Connecticut Sun.[https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/9175826/wnba-draft-brittney-griner-selected-phoenix-mercury-no-1-overall-pick "Griner, Delle Donne, Diggins go 1–2–3"]. espn.go.com. April 16, 2013. Retrieved April 16, 2013. She played for the Sun from 2013 to 2016, averaging 2.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in 112 games.{{cite web |url=http://www.wnba.com/player/kelly-faris/#/career |title=Kelly Faris player stats |website=WNBA.com |access-date=September 20, 2016}}

In September 2013, she signed with EuroLeague Women team UNIQA Euroleasing Sopron in Hungary.[http://www.fibaeurope.com/euroleaguewomen/coid_a-8,b3SMI8I,sWz6DP3o03.articleMode_on.html All Change In Sopron]. fibaeurope.com. May 10, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2013.

Faris signed with Adelaide Lightning of the Women's National Basketball League for the 2014–15 season. She was released by the club in December that same year with the team in last place. For the season she averaged 3.8 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists.{{cite news |author1=Boty Nagy |title=Adelaide sacks WNBL import Kelly Faris as Lightning slumps to all-time ladder low |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/basketball/adelaide-sacks-wnbl-import-kelly-faris-as-lightning-slumps-to-alltime-ladder-low/news-story/364d34210be4c08806c28d505c399246 |access-date=15 August 2018 |work=Adelaide Now |date=22 December 2014}}

In January 2016, Faris signed with the Flying Foxes Post SV Wien of the Austrian Women's Basketball Bundesliga. She helped the Flying Foxes to both the national championship, the Austrian Cup, where she was named the Cup's Final Four MVP,{{cite news |title=Die Foxes holten alle vergebenen MVP Auszeichnungen |url=http://flyingfoxes.at/2016/04/19/die-foxes-holten-alle-vergebenen-mvp-auszeichnungen/ |access-date=15 August 2018 |work=flyingfoxes.at |date=19 April 2016 |language=de}} and to the Austrian-Slovak Women Basketball League championship.{{cite news |title=Rekord Titel gesichert – ohne Niederlage zum 10. x in Serie Meister |url=http://flyingfoxes.at/2016/04/18/rekord-titel-gesichert-ohne-niederlage-zum-10-x-in-serie-meister/ |access-date=15 August 2018 |work=flyingfoxes.at |date=18 April 2016 |language=de}}{{cite web |title=Kelly Faris Basketball Career |url=https://basketball.eurobasket.com/player/Kelly-Faris/WNBA/Connecticut-Sun/156508?Women=1& |publisher=Eurobasket.com |access-date=15 August 2018}}

In February 2017, she signed with Bnot Hertzeliya of the Israeli Female Basketball Premier League where she averaged 13.9 points in five games.

In February 2018, Faris signed a training camp contract with the New York Liberty.{{cite news |author1=Ben Dull |title=New York Liberty sign Ibekwe, Faris, Alleyne for training camp |url=https://highposthoops.com/2018/02/22/new-york-liberty-sign-ibekwe-faris-alleyne-training-camp/ |access-date=15 August 2018 |work=FanSided |date=22 February 2018}} In August 2018, Faris signed with Breiðablik of the Icelandic Úrvalsdeild kvenna.{{cite news |author1=Ástrós Ýr Eggertsdóttir |title=Fyrrum WNBA leikmaður í Breiðablik |url=http://www.visir.is/g/2018180819344/fyrrum-wnba-leikmadur-i-breidablik |access-date=15 August 2018 |work=Vísir.is |date=15 August 2018 |language=is}} She left the team in January 2019. In 14 games in the Úrvalsdeild, Faris averaged 20.9 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.{{cite web |title=Úrvalsdeild kvenna Domino's deild kvenna (2018–2019 Tímabil) |url=http://www.kki.is/motamal/leikir-og-urslit/motayfirlit/Leikmadur?league_id=189&season_id=103157&player_id=5784453 |website=kki.is |publisher=Icelandic Basketball Federation |access-date=12 March 2019 |language=is}}

On February 11, 2019, Faris signed a training camp contract with the New York Liberty for the second straight year. She was released by the Liberty on May 20, prior to the start of the season.{{cite news |title=New York Liberty Waive Cuevas-Moore, Faris, Huff |url=https://liberty.wnba.com/news/new-york-liberty-waive-cuevas-moore-faris-huff/ |access-date=27 June 2019 |work=New York Liberty |date=20 May 2019}}

=WNBA career statistics=

==Regular season==

| align="left" | 2013

| align="left" | Connecticut

|24||3||14.1||36.7||28.0||77.8||2.2||0.7||0.3||0.2||0.6||2.1

| align="left" | 2014

| align="left" | Connecticut

|25||0||7.7||24.2||26.7||80.0||1.2||0.4||0.1||0.1||0.3||1.1

| align="left" | 2015

| align="left" | Connecticut

|32||9||14.5||38.1||31.0||77.8||1.7||1.0||0.4||0.1||0.5||2.9

| align="left" | 2016

| align="left" | Connecticut

|31||0||10.2||39.6||25.0||93.3||1.2||0.7||0.7||0.1||0.9||2.0

| align="left" | Career

| align="left" | 4 years, 1 team

|112||12||11.7||36.1||28.1||82.0||1.6||0.7||0.4||0.1||0.6||2.1

National team career

Faris was selected to play in the USA Women's Youth Development Festival. Eligible players are female basketball players who are in their sophomore or junior in high school. The 2007 event took place at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO.

Faris was a member of the USA Women's U18 team which won the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The event was held in July 2008, when the USA team defeated host Argentina to win the championship. Faris helped the team win all five games, assisting on 17 baskets, only one fewer than the team high 18.

Faris continued on to the USA Women's U19 team which represented the USA in the 2009 U19 World's Championship, held in Bangkok, Thailand in July and August 2009. Although the USA team lost the opening game to Spain, they went on to win their next seven games to earn a rematch against Spain in the finals, and won the game 81–71 to earn the gold medal. Faris was the high scorer with 13 points in the game against Mali.

Awards and honors

2003—AAU Basketball National Championship 11U
2007—AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships All-American team.
2007—First Team, All-State (Indiana 2A)
2008—First Team, All-State (Indiana 2A)
2008—MVP State Tournament (Indiana 2A)
2009—First Team, All-State (Indiana 2A)
2009—McDonald's All-America
2009—Parade Magazine All-America first team
2009—USA Today All-USA second team honors
2013—Big East Defensive Player of the Year.
2013—Big East Most Improved Player of the Year.
2013—NCAA Final Four All-Tournament team.

References

{{reflist|30em|refs=

{{cite web|url=http://www.indystar.com/article/20100409/SPORTS0217/4090332/|title=UConn super sub keeps on winning|last=Newell|first=Nat|date=April 9, 2010|work=The Indianapolis Star|access-date=May 1, 2010}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/faris_kelly00.html|title=Kelly Faris|publisher=University of Connecticut|access-date=May 1, 2010|archive-date=May 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502175644/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/faris_kelly00.html|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.nickray.net/bc/2003/11U.html|title=2003 Summer Basketball|publisher=NSR Web Publishing|access-date=May 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723221821/http://www.nickray.net/bc/2003/11U.html|archive-date=2011-07-23|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.indy.com/posts/area-players-lead-champions|title=Area players lead champions|last=Leigh|first=Kristen|date=March 19, 2009|work=Indy.com|access-date=May 1, 2010}}{{dead link|date=April 2013}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2009/HRESP/HC0074.html|title=HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION|publisher=State of Indiana|access-date=May 1, 2010}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.heritagechristian.net/districtNewsArticle.aspx?artID=648 |title=Kelly Faris, HCS ’09, Loves to Collect Rings |publisher=Heritage Christian School |access-date=May 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723143526/http://www.heritagechristian.net/districtNewsArticle.aspx?artID=648 |archive-date=July 23, 2011 }}

{{cite web|url=http://roundballreview.com/going-for-championship-no-5/|title=Going for Championship No. 5|date=April 5, 2010|publisher=Region Roundball Review|access-date=May 2, 2010}}

{{cite web|url=http://oldgoldfreepress.com/columnist/Bob_Richards/columns/607.shtml|title=Women's Recruiting Update: Faris and Moses honored|last=Richards|first=Bob|date=July 31, 2007|publisher=OldGoldFreePress.com|access-date=May 4, 2010}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.heritagechristian.net/UserFiles/file/HS_Q1_HighAcademicHonors.pdf |title=HS_Q1_HighAcademicHonors |publisher=Heritage Christian School |access-date=May 2, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723143537/http://www.heritagechristian.net/UserFiles/file/HS_Q1_HighAcademicHonors.pdf |archive-date=July 23, 2011 }}

{{cite web|url=http://www.maxpreps.com/contests/8Ds-ndbs-0O0Ou-HIGba1g/girls-basketball-winter-07-08/boxscore-harding-fort-wayne-vs-heritage-christian-indianapolis.htm|title=Boxscore|date=November 24, 2007|publisher=CBS MaxPreps, Inc|access-date= May 4, 2010}}

{{cite web|url=http://blog.ctnews.com/elliott/2009/02/19/big-time-kelly-faris/|title=Big-Time Kelly Faris|last=Elliot|first=Rich|work=Connecticut Post|date= February 19, 2009 |access-date=May 1, 2010}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.usabasketball.com/women_team.php?bios=faris_kelly |title=Kelly Faris |publisher=USA Basketball |access-date=May 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103185455/http://usabasketball.com/women_team.php?bios=faris_kelly |archive-date=January 3, 2010 }}

{{cite web|title=SA WOMEN'S YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FESTIVAL – 2007|url=http://www.usab.com/womens/devfestival/wydf_2007.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017055805/http://www.usab.com/womens/devfestival/wydf_2007.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 17, 2013|publisher=USA Basketball|access-date=10 Oct 2013}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=08_wu18_game_05|title=USA Women's U18 National Team Rolls Through FIBA Americas Championship Undefeated With 81–37 Victory Over Host Argentina|date=July 27, 2008|publisher=USA Basketball|access-date=May 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103165923/http://usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=08_wu18_game_05|archive-date=2010-01-03|url-status=dead}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.usabasketball.com/women/2008/08_wu18_stats/USA.HTM|title=United States|date=July 27, 2008|publisher=USA Basketball|access-date=May 1, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064752/http://www.usabasketball.com/women/2008/08_wu18_stats/USA.HTM|archive-date=June 8, 2011}}

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{{cite web|url=http://www.usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=09_wu19_game_09|title=USA U19 Women Golden With 87–71 Victory Over Spain|date=August 2, 2009|publisher=USA Basketball|access-date=May 1, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103164349/http://usabasketball.com/news.php?news_page=09_wu19_game_09|archive-date=January 3, 2010}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.usabasketball.com/women/2009/09_wu19_game_03_box.pdf |title=Official Basketball Box Score |date=July 25, 2009 |publisher=USA Basketball |access-date=May 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608064757/http://www.usabasketball.com/women/2009/09_wu19_game_03_box.pdf |archive-date=June 8, 2011 }}

{{cite web|url=http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/w-baskbl/stats/2009-2010/teamcume.html|title=UCONN Season Statistics|publisher=University of Connecticut|access-date=April 11, 2010}}

{{cite web|date=September 2, 2014|title=Lightning sign WNBA guard Kelly Faris to replace injured Natalie Novosel for 2014–15 WNBL campaign|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/lightning-sign-wnba-guard-kelly-faris-to-replace-injured-natalie-novosel-for-201415-wnbl-campaign/story-fnii09kj-1227044634034?nk=826f83e4c7ee0bd5235968009bf5e3be|work=couriermail.com.au|access-date=2 Sep 2014}}

{{cite web|last= NAGY|first=BOTI|date=October 23, 2014 |title=Alex Bunton for fitness test as Lightning ready for a Cappie Pondexter-led Dandenong assault|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/basketball/alex-bunton-for-fitness-test-as-lightning-ready-for-a-cappie-pondexterled-dandenong-assault/story-fni2u9cl-1227098719943|work=Herald Sun|access-date=24 Oct 2014}}

{{cite web|date=7 Mar 2013|title=BIG EAST Women's Basketball Regular Season Awards Announced|url=http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/242544/BIG-EAST-Women-s-Basketball-Regular-Season-Awards-Announced.aspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130616154414/http://www.bigeast.org/News/tabid/435/Article/242544/BIG-EAST-Women-s-Basketball-Regular-Season-Awards-Announced.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 June 2013|work=BIG EAST Athletics|access-date=17 Apr 2013}}

{{cite news|last=Elliott|first=Rich|title=2013 Final Four All-Tournament Team|date=April 10, 2013|url=http://blog.ctnews.com/elliott/2013/04/10/2013-final-four-all-tournament-team/|newspaper=CTPost|publisher=Hearst Communications Inc.|access-date=17 Apr 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130411174753/http://blog.ctnews.com/elliott/2013/04/10/2013-final-four-all-tournament-team/|archive-date=2013-04-11|url-status=dead}}

}}

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Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Australia

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Hungary

Category:American women's basketball players

Category:Basketball players from Indiana

Category:Breiðablik women's basketball players

Category:Connecticut Sun draft picks

Category:Connecticut Sun players