Kelly Karlis joins Badgers
July 06, 2017 | Women's Basketball
Transfer from Ohio will add depth at forward
MADISON, Wis. – Head coach Jonathan Tsipis has announced that Kelly Karlis, a forward from Ohio University, has transferred to the Wisconsin women's basketball program. Karlis will have one year of eligibility remaining after sitting out the 2017-18 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
"Kelly will bring a tremendous outside shooting threat as well as great length to play multiple positions for us," Tsipis said. "Defensively, she can guard several positions for our team and be very disruptive. Her experience and maturity will be a great addition to our program. She is a three-time state champion and has great expectations for success. We are thrilled to have Kelly join the Badger women's basketball family."
A 6-2 forward, Karlis played three years with the Bobcats, playing in 66 games with 23 starts. She averaged 5.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game for her career. Karlis averaged 20.7 minutes per game while shooting 37.8 percent (112-296) from the field, including 31.8 percent (61-192) from 3-point range. The Medinah, Illinois, native also had 78 blocks and 47 steals in her three seasons.
As a junior, she averaged 6.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, which ranked sixth and third, respectively, at Ohio. She scored in double figures in four games, including a career-best 15 points against Ball State. Karlis ranked second on the squad with 34 blocks. A long-range shooter, Karlis ranked third on the Bobcats with 37 3-pointers as a junior, shooting 35.2 percent from deep.
Karlis played at Montini Catholic High School for coach Jason Nichols, the same team as Badger teammate Malayna Johnson. She aided the Broncos to three Illinois Class 3A state titles. Karlis had 149 blocks in her career, which ranked third at Montini. She averaged a career-best 10.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.4 blocks per game as a senior.
She entered 2013-14 rated with a score of 89 on the ESPN's High School Girls' Basketball list. ESPN also tabbed her as the 53rd-best wing in the nation while the All Star Girls Report ranked her as the 264th-best recruit. Karlis also competed for Illinois Lady Lightning Basketball for six years under head coach Mike Seberger.
"Kelly will bring a tremendous outside shooting threat as well as great length to play multiple positions for us," Tsipis said. "Defensively, she can guard several positions for our team and be very disruptive. Her experience and maturity will be a great addition to our program. She is a three-time state champion and has great expectations for success. We are thrilled to have Kelly join the Badger women's basketball family."
A 6-2 forward, Karlis played three years with the Bobcats, playing in 66 games with 23 starts. She averaged 5.2 points and 4.4 rebounds per game for her career. Karlis averaged 20.7 minutes per game while shooting 37.8 percent (112-296) from the field, including 31.8 percent (61-192) from 3-point range. The Medinah, Illinois, native also had 78 blocks and 47 steals in her three seasons.
As a junior, she averaged 6.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, which ranked sixth and third, respectively, at Ohio. She scored in double figures in four games, including a career-best 15 points against Ball State. Karlis ranked second on the squad with 34 blocks. A long-range shooter, Karlis ranked third on the Bobcats with 37 3-pointers as a junior, shooting 35.2 percent from deep.
Karlis played at Montini Catholic High School for coach Jason Nichols, the same team as Badger teammate Malayna Johnson. She aided the Broncos to three Illinois Class 3A state titles. Karlis had 149 blocks in her career, which ranked third at Montini. She averaged a career-best 10.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.4 blocks per game as a senior.
She entered 2013-14 rated with a score of 89 on the ESPN's High School Girls' Basketball list. ESPN also tabbed her as the 53rd-best wing in the nation while the All Star Girls Report ranked her as the 264th-best recruit. Karlis also competed for Illinois Lady Lightning Basketball for six years under head coach Mike Seberger.
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