Meet the Freshmen: Santa Clara’s Kai Healy

When I first discovered that the Santa Clara Broncos signed an incoming freshman from Sydney, Australia named Kai Healy, I thought to myself, “I didn’t know they had a surfing team!?!”

Not only does the 6-foot-4 Healy hold the surfer-type name, he looks like one too. Australia is known worldwide to have some of the greatest surfing beaches in the world, and Healy grew up only an hour plane ride from what is considered the top surfing beach in the world, Gold Coast, Australia. Though this culture surrounded Healy in his youth, he found his happy place in the gym.

http://ausahoops.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/kai-healy-santa-clara.jpg

In High School

Ranked as a top 10 player in his class in the continent of Australia, Healy has been a standout player throughout his entire high school career. Captaining the New South Wales Metro team in 2013, he led them to a silver placing in the U-18 Australian Nationals. In the same year, he led his Scots College team to a title in the Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools of New South Wales League (AAGPS). Along with these accomplishments, Healy was also a member of the prestigious South Wales Institute of Sport basketball team.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p42jjLPf2WU )

Impact at Santa Clara

Healy’s arrival at SCU with be highly anticipated because the Broncos are always looking for more scoring prowess, which Healy provides. If rewarded with enough playing time, he could make an impact on the 2014-2015 team.

Last year, a high percentage of the scoring load came from the guard position for the Broncos with Jared Brownridge and Brandon Clark leading the team with 17.2 and 16.9 points per game, respectively. Though it might seem like it will be hard for Healy to compete with those numbers it is important to note that Coach Kerry Keating will continue to look toward his guards to carry a heavy scoring load, which will include the sharpshooting Healy.