3 Ramel Bradley

Ramel Bradley was born on February 24, 1985 in Brooklyn, New York to Wes and Daisy F. Rice.  Bradley played for the University of Kentucky Wildcats from 2004 to 2008. A talented point guard and shooting guard nicknamed “Smooth,” Bradley was known for his scoring ability, leadership, and toughness during his time at Kentucky.

Bradley was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where he developed his basketball skills on the city’s competitive courts. He attended The Pendleton School (IMG Academy) in Florida, where he became a highly regarded prospect known for his ball-handling, quickness, and scoring.  He averaged 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists per game as a senior at Manhattan’s Park West High School.

His performances earned him a scholarship to the University of Kentucky, where he played under head coaches Tubby Smith and later Billy Gillispie.  Coach Tubby Smith said of Bradley, “Ramel, who plays the point or two (guard), has tremendous quickness, great ballhandling skills, and an ability to find the open man as well as score himself. He comes from a program where he is competing against great competition and will be able to step in and contribute right away.”

Bradley played four seasons at Kentucky, gradually developing into one of the team’s key players and leaders.

• Freshman & Sophomore Years (2004–2006): Played a supporting role behind veteran guards, contributing off the bench with his scoring and perimeter defense.
• Junior Year (2006–07): Became a starting guard, averaging 13.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
• Senior Year (2007–08): Led the team in scoring, averaging 15.9 points, 3.2 assists, and 3.4 rebounds per game, while being the team’s emotional leader under new head coach Billy Gillispie.

As a freshman at Kentucky, Bradley was one of two nonstarters to play in all 34 games.  He averaged 14.1 minutes and 5.8 points in SEC play and was sixth on the team in minutes played (12.3 mpg).  Bradley went 14-of-28 (.500) from three-point range in his last 11 regular season games.  He had season highs in points (14), field goals (5), steals (2) and minutes (21) at Georgia. 

As a sophomore, Bradley missed two weeks towards the end of the season with a broken left hand.  He averaged 17.7 minutes and 7.9 points a game.  He finished season making 33 of his last 37 free-throw attempts (.892).  Bradley scored a career-high 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting against Ohio and followed that performance with a 16-point, three-steal game against UCF.

As a junior, Bradley was the only Wildcat to have started every game.  He led the team in assists (3.7), steals (1.3) and was third in scoring (13.8 ppg).  Bradley scored in double figures in 22 of his last 25 games and he was the first Cat since Keith Bogans (2003) to score 20 points in four-straight games, a streak that was snapped at Tennessee.  He was second in the SEC in free throw percentage (.820, 100-of-122), and made his last 19 attempts.  Bradley recorded 21 points and a career-high nine assists at home against South Carolina and scored a career high 24 points (22 in the second half) in leading UK back from a 14-point deficit to win at Arkansas.

As a senior, Bradley was an All-SEC performer who helped turn a 7-9 start into an 11-4 finish as Kentucky earned its record 49th NCAA Tournament appearance.  He was named first-team All-SEC by the coaches and 2nd team All-SEC by the AP.  He was named to the SEC All-Defensive team and to the USBWA All-District IV team.  He started 28 of 30 games and averaged 15.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game.

During his Kentucky career, Bradley was known for his fearless playing style, clutch performances, and ability to score from anywhere on the court. He finished with over 1,000 career points and played a vital role in keeping Kentucky competitive in the SEC and NCAA Tournament.

After going undrafted in the 2008 NBA Draft, Bradley played professionally overseas, competing in various leagues around the world:

• Played in Europe (France, Croatia, Israel, Turkey), where he was a standout scoring guard.
• Spent time in the Israeli Basketball Premier League, where he gained a reputation as a skilled offensive player.
• Continued playing professionally for nearly a decade, showcasing his ability to adapt to different playing styles internationally.

Bradley is remembered as a fan-favorite guard at Kentucky, known for his flair, leadership, and gritty play style.  His ability to score in big moments and carry the team during difficult stretches made him an essential part of Kentucky basketball in the mid-2000s.