Exeter’s ‘highly-motivated’ Alex Kelsey is Weeber/Langdon Team Player of the Week
As a junior Alex Kelsey was the first guard off the bench and a guy Exeter could count on for perimeter defense and physical play.
He has developed his all-around game as much as anyone in the Berks Conference this season to the point that Eagles coach Jeff VanGorder now draws up plays for him.
“He can get us baskets at the rim in key situations,” said the Eagles’ first-year coach.
The senior guard scored a career-high 21 points in a district playoff win over Warwick last week and had 10, four rebounds and three assists in a win over Muhlenberg to earn Weeber/Langdon Team of Merrill Lynch Player of the Week honors for the first time.
Kelsey is second on the team in scoring (12.1) and assists (2.1) and is shooting a team-best 50 percent from the field.
“Alex is the highest-motivated competitor in our program,” VanGorder said. “Every drill, rep, possession, and game he is bringing his high level enthusiasm and passion to win at everything — even knockout games to end practices!”
Kelsey has again helped the Eagles win. In his first season as a full-time starter he has helped the Eagles to an 18-9 record and a return trip to the PIAA Tournament. They’ll open at Upper Dublin Friday at 7.
Kelsey has improved his game across the board. He has more than doubled his scoring average, up from 5.4 points per game; nearly doubled his 3-pointers (from eight to 14); and has improved markedly at the free throw line where he’s making 75.5 percent (up from 50 percent).
The all-division pick made 13-of-16 from the line in the two wins last week to help the Eagles finish fifth in the District 3 Class 5A Tournament.
Kelsey averaged 14.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists in Exeter’s four district games; he shot 52 percent from the field.
Just like last season he’s still a key on the other end of the floor.
“I believe he is the best defender in Berks County,” VanGorder said. “If you check out the stats of the other teams’ best players who he has guarded they are very much below their averages from a field goal percentage and points standpoint.”
Kelsey moved into a starting role last season when Reece Garvin was injured late in the season and helped the Eagles win their first district title and make it to the PIAA championship game.
His best sport is baseball. He committed to play at St. Joseph’s University after earning All-Berks honors as a junior. The leadoff hitter batted .410 with a 1.238 OPS (fourth-best in the league), a .566 on-base percentage (third-best) and a .672 slugging percentage (seventh-best). He tied for second with 22 stolen bases and was considered the league’s top defensive center fielder.
He was an all-division baseball pick as a sophomore.
Player of the Week candidates are nominated by their coach or by members of MikeDragoSports.com coverage team.
This is Kelsey’s first selection this season and the second for the Eagles; Kevin Saenz was selected earlier this month.
Also considered for Player of the Week:
- Josh McKoy, Berks Catholic
- Parker Nein, Berks Catholic
- Brady Murray, Exeter
- Jayden Ware, Exeter
- Liam Hilburt, Fleetwood
- Kyle Archie, Muhlenberg
- Justin Armstrong, Muhlenberg
- Yadiel Cruz, Reading High
Players selected earlier this season:
- Dec. 11: Alex Collado, Muhlenberg
- Dec. 18: Madyx Gruber, Wilson
- Dec. 25: Nate Herb, Fleetwood
- Jan. 1: Yadiel Cruz, Reading High
- Jan. 8: Kevin Saenz, Exeter
- Jan. 15: Kingston McKoy, Berks Catholic
- Jan. 22: Shermar Killen, Muhlenberg
- Jan. 29: Josh McKoy, Berks Catholic
- Feb. 5: Aiden Soumas, Fleetwood
- Feb. 12: Nick Chapman, Reading High
- Feb. 19: Madyx Gruber, Wilson
- Feb. 26: Yadiel Cruz, Reading High
Players selected last season:
- Dec. 12: Jake Karnish, Fleetwood
- Dec. 19: Mark Rajnath, Schuylkill Valley
- Dec. 26: Ryan Koch, Berks Catholic
- Jan. 2: Myles Grey, Reading High
- Jan 9: Jake Karnish, Fleetwood
- Jan. 16: Yadiel Cruz, Reading High
- Jan. 23: Ruben Rodriguez, Reading High
- Jan. 30: Aiden Soumas, Fleetwood
- Feb. 6: Anthony Caccese, Exeter
- Feb. 13: Cooper Hohenadel, Schuylkill Valley
- Feb. 20: Ruben Rodriguez, Reading High
- Feb. 27: Ruben Rodriguez, Reading High
- March 6: Anthony Caccese, Exeter
- March 13: Myles Grey, Reading High
- March 20: Kevin Saenz, Exeter
- March 27: Nick Chapman, Reading High
Players selected in 2021-22 season:
- Dec. 20: Matt Harley, Gov. Mifflin
- Dec. 27: Colin Payne, Exeter
- Jan. 3: Jake Karnish, Fleetwood
- Jan. 10: Myles Grey, Reading High
- Jan. 17: Danny Turchi, Oley Valley
- Jan. 24: Ruben Rodriguez, Reading High
- Jan. 31: Julian O’Brien, Wyomissing
- Feb. 7: Xavier Goodman, Kutztown
- Feb. 14: Danny Turchi, Oley Valley
- Feb. 21: Ruben Rodriguez, Reading High
- Feb. 28: Hector Tiburcio, Antietam
- March 7: Joey Chapman, Reading High
