We’ve seen a lot of players come through our doors over the years, varying in appearance, skill level, and everything in between. We decided to put forth a “Getting to Know” series on some players who have attended events but still remain on the lesser-known side of things. Each of these prospects embody being a student-athlete and getting it done in the classroom as well as on the basketball court, and today’s edition will take a closer look at BJ Keith of Word of God and Juice All-Stars Stephenson.
We’ve seen Keith numerous times over the last year, including at our Phenom 150 Camp, where we stated, “Next, we look at a player that was arguably the most impressive two-way performer on this team, Brian Keith. He’s a smart, strong, aggressive two-way guard prospect with a high motor, unselfish approach, and the ability to dominate his assignment on either end of the floor. Keith possesses a tight handle, sharp vision, and scores the ball with efficiency from all three levels. He’s a bulldog-like defender that knows how to suffocate opponents and force them into turnovers with consistency. Keith is also a great leader, rebounder, and decision-maker with the ball in his hands. Next in his development process is working on his ability to move without the ball, as it would allow him to find even more scoring opportunities as an off-ball cutter. Coach Washington on Keith: “BJ was my do-it-all guy. He defended at a high level and scored on all three levels against each opponent. BJ is the type of young man every coach wants on his team because he does everything. I’m excited to see what he has in store for the upcoming season.” Keith was phenomenal at camp, securing the Mr. Defense award with relative ease, and should have a big-time season at Wake Christian.”
After camp, Keith transferred to Word of God and immediately assumed the role as one of their top on-ball defenders. However, he’s steadily improved in all facets of the game since then. After carving out his role within a national schedule, Keith can reliably run a team on both ends of the floor while scoring within the flow of the offense. He plays with an exceptional motor and understands how to consistently overwhelm opposing guards with his blend of quickness, positioning, and instincts. Keith forces a lot of turnovers and makes a constant impact in transition. He’s still progressing but already looks like an obvious player to find success at the next level, so expect Keith to start collecting offers over the next calendar year.