He could be a Division I athlete in three sports. Here's what makes J.J. Kelly special

Chambersburg boys' basketball coach Shawn Shreffler has seen a lot of great athletes come through District 3.

He doesn't think he's seen anyone like junior J.J. Kelly.

A 6-foot-6 potential NCAA Division I basketball player? Sure, those come around. So do state champion track and field athletes. But it's impressive when you see someone who can achieve both those feats.

And even more impressive when that someone is also a Division I recruit in football ...

Despite not actually playing the sport in the last calendar year.

But that's who Kelly is. The junior was named a second-team all-state basketball player by Pennsylvania sports writers last week. But he now faces a lot of upcoming decisions with his senior year and college decision on the horizon.

"I was talking to a coach at Syracuse, and he goes, 'This is crazy,'" Shreffler said. "You see kids all the time who are Division I athletes in their sport. Or maybe Division I athletes in two. J.J. is a legit Division I athlete in three sports, that just doesn't happen."

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Kelly currently has scholarship offers from UNLV, American University and Mount St. Mary's in basketball. He has offers from two power conference programs, Syracuse and Iowa State, in football even though he hasn't played since his sophomore year.

He was already a standout receiver then — posting 447 yards and five touchdowns in the prestigious Mid-Penn Commonwealth as a 10th grader.

But his best sport so far in high school seems to be the one he's least interested in competing in at the next level. Kelly has won the gold medal in the triple jump at the PIAA track and field championships the last two seasons. He leaped 48 feet, one inch on his final jump to claim the title as a freshman. He repeated with a mark of 47-7 last spring. A week before that, he set a personal record with a jump of 49-2 at the District 3 championships.

He also won a state gold medal in the high jump (6 feet, 8 inches), ran on the Trojans' winning 400-meter relay team and took bronze in the long jump (23-1.50 feet) last season. He helped Chambersburg win the team state title.

He didn't even start jumping until midway through his freshman year spring season. After watching his star pupil win his first state title, Chambersburg track coach Bob Walker compared Kelly to legendary Chambersburg girls' track star Marshay Ryan — who won five state titles in the jumps and competed for Auburn.

But Kelly isn't interested in a three-peat this spring. Current Chambersburg track and field coach Jim Boyer said Kelly recently told the Trojans team he won't be competing in the track and field postseason next month. He's planning to compete in AAU basketball tournaments in Indianapolis and Kansas City those weekends.

Kelly confirmed his decision last Thursday and said he wants to focus on basketball since that where most colleges are recruiting him. He said he's spoke to some college track coaches but none of them have "made anything official."

He said having already won state titles in track made the decision easier.

"I'm gonna take my abilities in my other sports and run with it," Kelly said. "It wasn't as difficult a decision as you'd imagine. I wanted to focus on something where I know I have the opportunity at the next level."

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Growing as a basketball player

It's no surprise Kelly was named all-state in basketball this season.

He averaged 21.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.7 steals. He led Chambersburg to a 20-7 record and an appearance in the District 3 Class 6A championship game. He scored 40 points in a win over Central Bucks East in the first round of the PIAA playoffs.

He was unstoppable in transition — often throwing down two-handed dunks that ignited the crowd.

But that part of his game — the jaw-dropping quickness and jumping ability — has always been there. That was what got him on the court as a freshman. That was what made him a "walking double-double" as a sophomore.

But he "morphed" over the past year into being a lead guard who can handle the ball, shoot from the outside and set up other teammates.

"What I've always said to him is that when you play for us, we're going to put the ball in your hands and take advantage of whatever mismatches are there," Shreffler said. "We've given him the opportunity to make decisions."

But Shreffler said Kelly's biggest growth has been his leadership. Despite being a junior, he was the guy the Trojans looked to "say the right things at the right times."

Getting back into football

While Kelly didn't play football this past fall to avoid injury, he's reversing course for his senior year.

He plans to return to the gridiron. Kelly said football was the first sport he played growing up, and he wants to finish what he started with his lifelong teammates.

But he's also open to playing football at the next level. He said he's "leaning toward basketball," but would consider playing football in college if "a nice look comes."

Chambersburg's football team went 4-6 last season.

"I'd like to see where football can go," he said. "I think it'll be a pretty smooth transition (after not playing last year). I want to finish my senior year strong."

Whatever Kelly chooses to do, he's left a lasting mark on his school.

"He has continued to grow as a player," Shreffler said. "I love his passion for the game. He wants to get better. It's been really neat to see his development."

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Chambersburg's J.J. Kelly named all-state for Pennsylvania basketball