Wichita State forward Rashard Kelly has signed a contract with Parma Basket, a professional team based in Perm, Russia.
 
Parma is in its third season as a member of the VTB United League – the top tier in Russian professional basketball. Its regular season schedule runs from October through May.
 
Kelly graduated from WSU in May with a degree in sport management. He becomes the 30^th Gregg Marshall Era Shocker to enter the professional ranks and the second from WSU's 2018 Class. Teammate Landry Shamet was selected 26^th overall by the Philadelphia 76'ers in last month's NBA Draft.
 
WSU finished second nationally in rebounding margin in 2017-18 (+9.9), thanks in large part to Kelly's efforts on the glass. The senior ranked third on the American Athletic Conference rebounding chart (7.6) and grabbed a school-record 104 offensive rebounds in 33 contests.
 
Kelly ended his career with 654 rebounds -- most by a Marshall Era Shocker and 20^th all-time. His 261 offensive rebounds rank second on the school's career list (WSU began officially tracking this stat in 1985-86).
 
A consistent presence whose self-described role included "doing the dirty work," Kelly (5.6 points per game) was named to national writer Seth Davis' "All-Glue" team at the conclusion of the season.
 
Kelly tied a school record with 139-consecutive games played and became only the sixth Shocker in the era of freshman eligibility to go his entire four-year career without missing a contest. During his tenure, he took part in 112 Shocker victories (with just 27 losses). The team spent 48 weeks in the AP Poll over his last two seasons, climbing as high as No. 3 in December, 2017.
 

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Former Shockers with 2018-19 professional contracts:
Player – Club (Country; League)

Malcolm Armstead – Demir Insaat Buyukcekmece Basket (Turkey; BSL)
Ron Baker – New York Knicks (USA; NBA)
Darius Carter – BG-Goettingen (Germany; German BBL)
Ramon Clemente – Vaqueros de Bayamon (Puerto Rico; BSN)
Tekele Cotton – Fiat Torino (Italy; Serie A)
Clevin Hannah – Herbalife Gran Canaria (Spain; ACB)
Rashard Kelly – Parma Basket Perm (Russia; VTB United)
Toure' Murry – UCC Assigeco Piacenza (Italy; Serie A2)
Landry Shamet – Philadelphia 76'ers (USA; NBA)
Garrett Stutz – Toyotsu FE (Japan; B.2)
Fred VanVleet – Toronto Raptors (Canada; NBA)
 

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Other Ex-Shockers who were active in 2017-18:
Player – Club (Country; League)

Kadeem Coleby – Akita Northern Happinets (Japan; B.League)
Cleanthony Early – Rio Grande Valley Vipers (USA; G-League)
Aaron Ellis – FC Kaiserslautern (Germany; Regionalliga SW)
Mantas Griskenas -- KFUM Nassjo Basket (Sweden, Basketligan)
Carl Hall – Nauticos of Mazaltan (Mexico; CIBACOPA)
Chadrack Lufile – Puerto Montt (Chile; Chile-Liga Nacional)
Gal Mekel – Gran Canaria (Spain; ACB/EuroCup)
Joe Ragland – Lokomotiv (Russia; VTB United)
Tom "Bush" Wamukota – Aguilas Doradas de Durango (Mexico; CIBACOPA)