University of Kansas

The story behind KU freshman guard Kelly Oubre’s tattoos (with video)

By RUSTIN DODD

The Kansas City Star
KU’s Kelly Oubre threw down a two-handed dunk late in the Jayhawks’ 64-59 win over TCU during the Big 12 Tournament at the Sprint Center. The “fear” tattooed on his right arm is accompanied by scenes of his hometown of New Orleans, while the “God” on his left is accompanied by religious scenes.
KU’s Kelly Oubre threw down a two-handed dunk late in the Jayhawks’ 64-59 win over TCU during the Big 12 Tournament at the Sprint Center. The “fear” tattooed on his right arm is accompanied by scenes of his hometown of New Orleans, while the “God” on his left is accompanied by religious scenes. RICH SUGG The Kansas City Star

Kelly Oubre left New Orleans when he was 9 years old, piling into a car with his father and driving toward Houston as Hurricane Katrina approached.

Oubre, now a standout freshman at Kansas, would never return home to live in New Orleans. He would settle in Houston with his father, Kelly Sr., and grow into one of the best high school basketball players in the country. But he kept New Orleans close to his heart — and body. Last year, Oubre got a tattoo on his right arm that commemorates his hometown, where his mother and siblings still live.

As the NCAA Tournament begins in Omaha, Oubre spoke to The Star about the meaning of his tattoos, which also include a tattoo on his left arm about his faith.

You can also read about Oubre’s journey from New Orleans to Kansas in this story from November.

(Video by John Sleezer and photos by Rich Sugg, The Kansas City Star.)

This story was originally published March 19, 2015 at 6:17 PM with the headline "The story behind KU freshman guard Kelly Oubre’s tattoos (with video)."

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