Gary Keller
Encyclopedia
Gary J. Keller is a former American college and professional basketball
player who was a center
and power forward
in the American Basketball Association
(ABA) for two seasons during the late 1960s. Keller played college basketball
for the University of Florida
, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Minnesota Muskies
and the Minnesota Pipers of the ABA.
in 1944. He grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida
, where he attended Dixie M. Hollins High School. He played high school basketball for the Dixie Hollins Rebels, winning back-to-back Florida state championships in 1961 and 1962. He was a McDonald's fourth-team high school All-American selection as a senior.
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
, and played for coach Norm Sloan
and coach Tommy Bartlett's Florida Gators men's basketball
teams from 1965 to 1967. The Gators finished 21–4 in 1967—their best-ever win-loss record up to that time. Keller was an Academic All-America
n, and graduated from Florida with a bachelor's degree
in business administration in 1967. He was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great."
(NBA) Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers
, and by the Denver Nuggets
in the 1967 ABA Draft. After the Nuggets traded him to the Minnesota Muskies, he chose to play for the Minnesota ABA franchises instead of the NBA. He averaged 6.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in his two ABA seasons.
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 who was a center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
and power forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
in the American Basketball Association
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:...
(ABA) for two seasons during the late 1960s. Keller played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
for the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Minnesota Muskies
Minnesota Muskies
The Minnesota Muskies were a charter member of the American Basketball Association, born with the league's creation on February 2, 1967. L.P. Shields and Fred Jefferson bought in to create the franchise for $30,000...
and the Minnesota Pipers of the ABA.
Early years
Keller was born in Elizabeth, New JerseyElizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
in 1944. He grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, where he attended Dixie M. Hollins High School. He played high school basketball for the Dixie Hollins Rebels, winning back-to-back Florida state championships in 1961 and 1962. He was a McDonald's fourth-team high school All-American selection as a senior.
College career
Keller received an athletic scholarshipAthletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, and played for coach Norm Sloan
Norm Sloan
Norman Sloan , nicknamed "Stormin' Norman," was an American college basketball player and coach. Sloan played college basketball for North Carolina State University, and thereafter, he was the men's basketball head coach for Presbyterian College, The Citadel, the University of Florida and North...
and coach Tommy Bartlett's Florida Gators men's basketball
Florida Gators men's basketball
The Florida Gators men's basketball team represents the University of Florida in the sport of basketball. The Gators compete in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and the Southeastern Conference...
teams from 1965 to 1967. The Gators finished 21–4 in 1967—their best-ever win-loss record up to that time. Keller was an Academic All-America
Academic All-America
Academic All-America program is a student-athlete recognition program...
n, and graduated from Florida with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in business administration in 1967. He was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great."
Professional career
After his college career, Keller was drafted in the sixth round of the 1967 National Basketball AssociationNational Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA) Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, and by the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
in the 1967 ABA Draft. After the Nuggets traded him to the Minnesota Muskies, he chose to play for the Minnesota ABA franchises instead of the NBA. He averaged 6.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game in his two ABA seasons.
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- List of Florida Gators basketball players
- List of University of Florida alumni