Iraklis Signs Zaccheus Darko-Kelly

Iraklis B.C. has officially announced the acquisition of American guard/forward Zaccheus Darko-Kelly (28 years old, 1.98 meters / 6'6"). The Thessaloniki club secured the versatile player on a two-year contract.

Last season, Darko-Kelly played in Finland, where he put up impressive numbers, averaging 15.9 points (44.7% 3FG), 6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.5 steals across 26 games.

Player Profile

Zaccheus Darko-Kelly, born on May 3, 1997, in Great Falls, Montana, USA, stands at 1.98m (6'6") and primarily plays as a small forward, though he can also operate as a shooting guard. He is known for his all-around game, combining scoring ability with strong rebounding, passing, and defensive attributes.

Darko-Kelly's basketball journey began at Sentinel High School in Missoula, Montana, before moving on to college. He spent two years at Montana Western (2016-2018) and then transferred to Providence (Montana), where he played from 2019 to 2021. His collegiate career was highly decorated, earning him First-team NAIA All-American honors twice (2020, 2021), among other accolades.

His professional career began in 2021. After participating in the Las Vegas Summer League with the Toronto Raptors, he moved to Europe:

Helsinki Seagulls (2021-2022): He joined the Finnish club in October 2021, averaging 10.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.1 steals in 40 games. He also celebrated his first career title, winning the Finnish Cup.

PAOK (2022-2023): Darko-Kelly signed with Iraklis's city rival PAOK. Unfortunately, his stint was cut short after just six official games due to a severe ankle injury sustained in a Basketball Champions League road game against Malaga, sidelining him for the rest of the season. At PAOK, he was teammates with Nikos Tsiakmas, who he will now reunite with at Iraklis.

Walter Tigers Tübingen (2023-2024): He made his return to action in Germany, averaging 6.4 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1 assist in 19 games.

Otago Nuggets (2024): In March 2024, he signed with the Otago Nuggets in New Zealand, finishing the season strong with averages of 15.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1 steal in 19 games.

Joensuun Kataja (2024-2025): Last season, he returned to Finland and played for Joensuun Kataja, where he posted impressive stats of 15.9 points, 6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.5 steals, shooting 44.7% from three-point range over 26 games.