Koby Brea led college basketball in 3-point shooting percentage five games into the season, shooting 74.1 percent from long range, an astounding percentage even by Brea’s standards. Last season, Brea was the nation’s leader in 3-point shooting at 53.1 percent over 33 games at Dayton. He started even hotter in his first three weeks in Lexington, making 20 of his first 27 attempts as a Wildcat, including a 4-for-4 debut against Wright State followed by a 6-for-8 game against Bucknell in the first week.
Things cooled off around Thanksgiving, though, and Brea fell into a shooting slump. When the hot start went cold, Brea made only 31.8 percent of his 3-pointers over four games, reaching solid ice with a 1-for-6 night against seventh-ranked Gonzaga in Seattle. He dropped from first to fifth nationally in shooting percentage, although his 55.1 percentage through nine games was still a remarkable number.
Brea returned to form in Game 10, a surprisingly close win against Colgate in Rupp Arena. He made five 3-pointers on eight attempts to lead Kentucky in scoring with 17 points. He followed that game with a 2-for-7 performance against Louisville.
[Koby Brea and Kentucky broke out of a shooting slump and hit the 30 mark against Colgate]
Now, only three players stand between Brea and his throne as college basketball’s best 3-point shooter, and the No. 2 and 3 shooters are less than a percent away on the list. Brea (53.12%) can jump John Mobley Jr. (53.57%) and Chance McMillian (53.85%) in his climb to the top with a big game against Ohio State on Saturday. The funny thing about that is Mobley Jr. plays for Ohio State.
Ohio State Buckeyes guard John Mobley Jr. (0) celebrates a three pointer during the first half of the NCAA men’s basketball game against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Value City Arena in Columbus on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.
In the way: John Mobley Jr.
John Mobley Jr. has hit four fewer 3s than Koby Brea, but the Ohio State freshman has been the more accurate of the two shooters so far. Though much shorter, Mobley Jr. is the Buckeyes’ version of Brea, you know, that guy you can’t leave open. The 6-foot-1 guard hit 30 of his first 56 tries as a college basketball player, with three or more 3s in seven games already. Mobley Jr. started hotter than Brea, too. The true freshman, who was the No. 8 point guard in the 2024 On3 Industry Rankings, hit his first seven 3-pointers of his career.
On Saturday, Mobley Jr. and Brea, two of the best shooters in college basketball, will go head-to-head at the CBS Sports Classic in Madison Square Garden. Brea, a New York City kid, hopes to continue his climb back to the top, while Mobley Jr. of Rochester, New York, aims to continue the incredibly hot start to his young career. We may be in for a 3-point shootout.
Top 3-point shooters in college basketball
Ahamad Bynum (UTEP), 64.10% (25-39)
Chance McMilian (Texas Tech), 53.85% (28-52)
John Mobley Jr. (Ohio State), 53.57% (30-56)
Koby Brea (Kentucky), 53.12% (34-64)
Jayden Nunn (Baylor), 52.73% (29-55)
Mitch Mascari (Drake), 52.17% (36-69)
Joson Sanon (Arizona State), 52% (26-50)
Emanuel Sharp (Houston), 52% (26-50)
Tyrese Hunter (Memphis), 51.61% (32-62)
Rafael Pinzon (Bryant), 50.82% (31-61)
(NCAA.com)
Koby Brea’s 3-point shooting percentage by game
Wright State: 100% (4-4)
Bucknell: 75% (6-8)
Duke: 50.0% (2-4)
Lipscomb: 100.0% (3-3)
Jackson State: 62.5% (5-8)
Western Kentucky: 42.9% (3-7)
Georgia State: 28.6% (2-7)
Clemson: 50% (1-2)
Gonzaga: 16.7% (1-6)
Colgate: 62.5% (5-8)
Louisville 28.6% (2-7)
SEASON: 53.1% (34-64)