Billy Keller
Encyclopedia
William Curry "Billy" Keller (born August 30, 1947 in Indianapolis, Indiana
) is an American
former professional basketball
player.
. He attended George Washington Community High School
, located in Indianapolis, Indiana
. He was named Indiana's Mr. Basketball his Senior year.
, located in West Lafayette, Indiana
, where he played under head coach George King
. Along-side three-time All-American Rick Mount
and fellow Senior and co-captain Herm Gilliam
, he led the Boilermakers
to a Big Ten Conference
Title and to the school's first NCAA Tournament
appearance, making it to the NCAA Finals
game in 1969. In 75 games, "Mr. Hustle" averaged 14.1 points game throughout his career and tallied a total of 1,056 points. He received the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
his Senior year, which is given to the nation's best player under 6 feet (1.8 m). After his Senior season at Purdue, he participated in the Kentucky-Indiana All-Star Game, where he first played with a three point line. Billy went 6 for 7 beyond the arc and discovered his specialty as a three-point shooter in the next level (The NCAA didn't have a three point line until the mid 80's as the ABA did in 1969).
to the Milwaukee Bucks
, but only played for the ABA
's Indiana Pacers
. Along with the likes of George McGinnis
and college teammate Rick Mount, he helped lead the Pacers to three ABA Championships
in '70, '72 and '73. Keller would become one of the most successful shooters in ABA history, making 506 three-point field goal
s during his seven-year career (second in league history behind only Louie Dampier
's 794) while leading the league in free throw
percentage two times in 1973 and 1976. He set an ABA Playoffs
record going 30-30 from the free throw line in the 1974-1975 season. He finished his 7 year ABA career averaging 11.8 points a game, with a .456 field goal percentage and scoring a total of 6,588 points.
in 1980 under second year head coach, Lee Rose. He helped lead Purdue to an overall record of 23-10, including an NCAA Final Four appearance.
In 1992, Keller was elected to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
. He currently runs a series of basketball camps in his home state.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
1961-1965
Billy Keller, the 5'10" guard, spent his entire basketball career in the state of IndianaIndiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. He attended George Washington Community High School
George Washington Community High School
George Washington Community High School is a public community school located in Indianapolis, Indiana, serving grades 7-12. The school is operated by the Indianapolis Public Schools system. The school's athletic teams are named the Continentals...
, located in Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. He was named Indiana's Mr. Basketball his Senior year.
1965-1969
Keller attended Purdue UniversityPurdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
, located in West Lafayette, Indiana
West Lafayette, Indiana
As of the census of 2010, there were 29,596 people, 12,591 households, and 3,588 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,381.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 74.3% White, 17.3% Asian, 2.7% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.03% Pacific...
, where he played under head coach George King
George King (basketball)
George Smith King was an American professional basketball player and collegiate coach. He was born in Charleston, West Virginia.-1946-1950:...
. Along-side three-time All-American Rick Mount
Rick Mount
Richard Carl Mount is a former American basketball player in the American Basketball Association . He was the first high school athlete to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.-Early life:...
and fellow Senior and co-captain Herm Gilliam
Herm Gilliam
Herman L. Gilliam Jr. was an American professional basketball player. He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.-1965-1969:...
, he led the Boilermakers
Purdue Boilermakers men's basketball
The Purdue Boilermakers basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in NCAA Division I and is a member of the Big Ten Conference. Purdue basketball holds the record for most Big Ten Championships with 22, along with being the only program in the conference to boast winning records...
to a Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
Title and to the school's first NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
appearance, making it to the NCAA Finals
1969 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1969 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 8, 1969, and ended with the championship game on March 22 in Louisville, Kentucky...
game in 1969. In 75 games, "Mr. Hustle" averaged 14.1 points game throughout his career and tallied a total of 1,056 points. He received the Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award
The Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award is an annual college basketball award in the United States intended to honor shorter–than–average players who excel on the court despite their size. The award, named in honor of James Naismith's daughter–in–law, was established for men in 1969 and for women in 1984...
his Senior year, which is given to the nation's best player under 6 feet (1.8 m). After his Senior season at Purdue, he participated in the Kentucky-Indiana All-Star Game, where he first played with a three point line. Billy went 6 for 7 beyond the arc and discovered his specialty as a three-point shooter in the next level (The NCAA didn't have a three point line until the mid 80's as the ABA did in 1969).
1969-1976
Billy was the 2nd pick in the 7th round in the 1969 NBA Draft1969 NBA Draft
The 1969 NBA Draft was the 23rd annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 7, 1969 and May 7, 1969 before the 1969–70 season. In this draft, 14 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. A player who had finished his four-year...
to the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
, but only played for the ABA
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
's Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
. Along with the likes of George McGinnis
George McGinnis
George F. McGinnis is a retired American professional basketball player, most notably with the Indiana Pacers of the American Basketball Association . He was drafted into the ABA from Indiana University in 1971...
and college teammate Rick Mount, he helped lead the Pacers to three ABA Championships
ABA Championships
The ABA Championships is the premier tournament hosted annually by the Amateur Boxing Association of England. The Championships are 'open' class: any boxer who is registered with a club of the ABA of England can enter....
in '70, '72 and '73. Keller would become one of the most successful shooters in ABA history, making 506 three-point field goal
Three-point field goal
A three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
s during his seven-year career (second in league history behind only Louie Dampier
Louie Dampier
Louis "Louie" Dampier is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6-foot-tall guard, Dampier is one of only a handful of men to play all nine seasons in the American Basketball Association , all with the Kentucky Colonels...
's 794) while leading the league in free throw
Free throw
In basketball, free throws or foul shots are unopposed attempts to score points from a restricted area on the court , and are generally awarded after a foul on the shooter by the opposing team...
percentage two times in 1973 and 1976. He set an ABA Playoffs
1975 ABA Playoffs
The 1975 ABA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the American Basketball Association's 1974-1975 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Division champion Kentucky Colonels defeating the Western Division champion Indiana Pacers, four games to one in the ABA Finals.The Kentucky...
record going 30-30 from the free throw line in the 1974-1975 season. He finished his 7 year ABA career averaging 11.8 points a game, with a .456 field goal percentage and scoring a total of 6,588 points.
Purdue (assistant)
Four years after his career in the ABA, Bill served as an assistant coach at his alma materAlma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
in 1980 under second year head coach, Lee Rose. He helped lead Purdue to an overall record of 23-10, including an NCAA Final Four appearance.
In 1992, Keller was elected to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame is a sports museum and hall of fame in New Castle, Indiana. It honors men and women associated with high school, college and professional basketball in Indiana....
. He currently runs a series of basketball camps in his home state.