Who is Kevin Keatts? NC State Final Four coach produced a few Xavier basketball legends

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North Carolina State Wolfpack head coach Kevin Keatts watches his team during practice at State Farm Stadium.

NC State head coach Kevin Keatts is a great example of how the Madness of March can turn personal fates on a dime.

Less than a month ago, Keatts was reportedly on the hot seat with his Wolfpack on the verge of missing the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in six seasons. Then, madness ensued. NC State got hot at the right time − ripping off five wins in five days to capture the ACC Tournament title and secure a bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Wolfpack have continued to play their best basketball at the right time, winning four games to reach the Final Four for the first time since 1983.

NC State meets top-seeded Purdue in Phoenix Saturday for a spot in the national championship game.

Long before he was leading the Wolfpack on a Cinderella NCAA Tournament run, Keatts was the staple of one of the best prep basketball programs in the nation at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia. Keatts, who had two stints as the Hargrave head coach (1999-2001 and 2003-2011), captured two national prep championships (2004, 2008) and was runner-up three times. He was inducted into Hargrave’s Hall of Fame in 2011 before returning to the college ranks as an associate head coach under Rick Pitino at Louisville.

While at Hargrave, Keatts helped lay the groundwork for some successful Xavier teams as the dominant prep school produced a few Xavier legends.

David West, a member of the Hargrave squad during the 1998-1999 season, was recruited by former Xavier head coach Skip Prosser. West became a two-time Consensus All-American, the 2003 National Player of the Year and a three-time A-10 Player of the Year at Xavier under Prosser and Thad Matta. In his four seasons combined, West led Xavier to a 94-32 combined record and three NCAA Tournament appearances. West is No. 3 all-time in Xavier history in points (2,132) and total rebounds (1,308).

David West was the 2003 National Player of the…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kevin-keatts-nc-state-final-154547225.html

Author : Cincinnati.com | The Enquirer

Publish date : 2024-04-06 15:45:47

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