Before his NFL career, Travis Kelce was a standout multi-sport athlete. He played at the forward position for his high school basketball team, and even when he went to college, Kelce played pickup basketball at Cincinnati.
At 6’5 and with the talent that he had, Kelce might’ve made it big in basketball as well if he dedicated his time to the game as he did with football. The current landscape of the NFL would’ve been very different.
Jerrod Calhoun, head coach of the Cincinnati Bearcats men’s basketball team, recently made an appearance on Kelce’s podcast, ‘New Heights’. Coach Calhoun said that Kelce “turned us down” and focused on football.
Jason Kelce jumped in to clarify that it wasn’t Travis’ decision as their father, Ed Kelce, made that call.
“Dating back to old 2007, I had already kinda committed. I was looking around at some basketball schools, and I go down to West Virginia, you’re my point of contact. You guys treat me like family, like I had never been treated before,” Travis said.
The Chiefs’ tight end said that at Cincinnati, he was “Jason’s little brother,” but he still didn’t get the treatment as he did at West Virginia. At the time, Calhoun was an assistant coach for the West Virginia Mountaineers.
After being blown away by the West Virginia program, Travis came back home and told his father that he wanted to give himself a chance to play Division I basketball. Ed Kelce disagreed and told him to keep his word.
So, Travis joined the Cincinnati Bearcats football team in 2008 and made First-team All-Big East in 2012, his final year. He appeared for the 2013 NFL Draft, where he was a third-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jerrod Calhoun said Travis Kelce Could Hoop
Today, Travis stands as one of the greatest tight ends of all time. A three-time Super Bowl winner with the Chiefs and an integral part of the Chiefs’ dynasty, it’s difficult to imagine what would’ve happened to the Chiefs without him.
As for his basketball skills, Coach Jerrod Calhoun co-signed every claim he has ever made. He said that the Chiefs’ TE was capable of playing at a high level.
“Trav, I’ll be honest, man, you could hoop, man,” he said. “Obviously, you’re gonna go down as the greatest tight end in my book, but you were a hooper, man.”
Travis said that he was a “hooper at heart.” Coach Calhoun also stated that if the Kelce brothers played college basketball today, with the introduction of NIL and transfer portal decisions being dictated by the financial capability of programs, they would’ve made a lot of money.
Read More:
Former LSU National Champ Urges Eagles to Trade Jalen Hurts Amid Reports of Offensive Struggles
Philadelphia Eagles Rumors: 3 Potential Trade Moves That Could Happen Soon
Is Brandon Graham Retiring? All We Know About Philadelphia Legend’s Future Plans
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in College Football, Men’s College Basketball, Women’s College Basketball, and College Baseball!
