Walt Kelsey comes by his hypercompetitive personality naturally. As a basketball star at Division II Northern Kentucky University, he set the school record when he poured in 50 points in a single game in 2004.

Kelsey has etched his name in the men's basketball annals, playing more minutes (3,861) and averaging more minutes-per-game (33.6) than any other Norse in program history. Kelsey netted 1,595 points during that time, ranking seventh all-time in the Norse annals. His 285 made threes rank third all-time and his 81.3 percent free-throw percentage is 10th-best. However, Kelsey's most notable record is a 50-point performance against Indianapolis on Jan. 2, 2004.  He earned Great Lakes all-region second team and All-GLVC second team as a junior and honorable mention as a sophomore and senior. Kelsey was a standout in the classroom as well, garnering academic All-GLVC honors four times and was twice tabbed as the men's basketball GLVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

“He can really shoot the ball (Mike Kelsey). He
gets it off so quick and it looks like every one of
them are going in. I was really impressed with Mike
Kelsey. He is one of the best shooters in the country.
He made a believer out of me.”
– Tubby Smith,
former head basketball coach,
University of Kentucky
(after Mike Kelsey scored 27 points against
the Wildcats on 11-3-04)

“Mike Kelsey had a plan every summer on how to
become a better player, that plan and his work ethic
turned him into one of the best ever here at NKU.
Mike has the skill and knowledge to help anyone
become a better player.”
– Dave Bezold,
head basketball coach,
Northern Kentucky University