Keegan McDowell (2017) Recruiting Report
Keegan McDowell (2017) and Archbishop Moeller High School just finished another successful basketball season. Though they lost in the regional semifinals, Moeller wrapped 23-4. McDowell enters his final AAU season with a growing list of college options. “I have three offers:…
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Continue ReadingKeegan McDowell (2017) and Archbishop Moeller High School just finished another successful basketball season. Though they lost in the regional semifinals, Moeller wrapped 23-4.
McDowell enters his final AAU season with a growing list of college options.
“I have three offers: Liberty, Appalachian State, and St. Francis (PA),” said McDowell.”
As a SW Ohio resident, McDowell is surrounded by colleges of all sizes. Moeller has a great reputation, and their coach is well-received by recruiters. Numerous Division I colleges evaluated McDowell and an impressive assortment hosted him.
“I visited William & Mary, Davidson, Belmont, App. State, Wofford, and Liberty in the fall,” said McDowell.
Liberty Connections
Life begins with family. It is all you know, your whole world when you enter the world. Metaphorically, McDowell’s 2017 summer will amount to his introduction to the world.
The recruiting process has a long way to go for McDowell and his family, but the tug towards Liberty University is noticeable.
“Their facilities were awesome and my sister actually goes there,” said McDowell. “I was pretty familiar with them. I enjoyed visiting.”
Wait, what?
McDowell’s sister is freshman at LU, and if he picked the Flames they would share two years of schooling at the bucolic campus.
LU Head Coach Ritchie McKay leads the Flames and McDowell appreciates the seniority and experience McKay offers.
“He left and was be an assistant under Tony Bennett at Virginia and came back this year to be the head coach again,” said McDowell. “He has been the one recruiting me. I have gotten to know him pretty well. A lot of what draws me to them is him. He seems to be good with the guys.”
For a junior to be so strongly pursued by the head coach of a D1 college shows McDowell’s promise as a basketball player.
Coach McKay’s recruiting wins are staggering. Just look at the Class of 2017, which is NEXT year’s batch: Jay Barber and Elijah Cuffee.
“I played with a kid (going to Liberty) from West Virginia,” said McDowell. “He is committed there from the 2017 class, Elijah Cuffee.”
During McDowell’s campus visit two 2016 commits were also in town. He was able to scrimmage against the current team. The incoming Class of 2016 brings a quintet of signees to the Lynchburg, Virginia campus. Forward Josiah Talbert (KS) picked Liberty over American University, Lipscomb, New Orleans, and Central Arkansas.
Other members of the class include Xzavier Barmore (SC), Hayden Koval (TX), and Brock Gardner (AZ). Liberty has really advanced their recruitment of McDowell along swiftly and they will provide significant competition for all his suitors come signing day.
Davidson Circling
A few mid-majors have powerful brands, like Butler, Xavier, Gonzaga, and VCU. Belmont, Davidson, and Wichita State certainly elevated their brands in the last decade.
McDowell is familiar with Davidson and actually shared a unique compliment concerning their staff.
“I visited and they have a brand new facility, new locker rooms, coach’s offices, and everything,” said McDowell. “They have great facilities and also have a high energy coaching staff. It was pretty fun to watch.”
With Anderson Cooper-style hair, Head Coach Bob McKillop is synomous with Davidson. Still, the program is fueled by the enthusiasm and grind of his assistants too.
“Coach Matt McKillop came up for open gyms in the fall,” remembered McDowell. “Coach Bob, the head coach, came up for a practice early in the year. Both of them were supposed to come to Myrtle Beach. Something happened, but Coach Matt ended up coming.”
Davidson holds a special place in McDowell’s mind as they were one of the earliest schools to contact him, dating back to June 2015. Davidson has not offered, but the program has invested both time and energy into evaluating Keegan.
McDowell just signed up for his standardized testing. His grades are excellent. Moeller is a wonderful institution for student-athletes. It truly prepares them for the time-management strain college will undoubtedly place. With three D1 offers on the table, KM is just angling for more of the same.
He would like to hear more from Richmond, Pepperdine, and Butler. Though Butler popped by for his open gyms in October, the contact could be more consistent.
After one more big summer and McDowell will be ready to elect a basketball program.