Al Kelley was a 6-0 (1.83) guard at the University of Kansas, graduating in 1954. He was a part of the Kansas team that lost in the final of the 1953 NCAA Championships, and was a two-time All-Conference selection. After graduation he was drafted in the seventh round by the Milwaukee Hawks but spurned their offers. Instead he played AAU ball until 1960 for the Peoria Caterpillars, the powerhouse in AAU basketball at that time, and helped them win several national championships. Kelley was a long-time employee of the Caterpillar Tractor firm that sponsored those great teams. Kelley was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2013.