Hargrave welcomed the return of two former Post-Graduate (PG) athletes and their coach on Thursday, October 14, 2011. The National Basketball League’s (NBA) Josh Howard of the Washington Wizards and David West of the New Orleans Hornets joined Louisville Assistant Coach Kevin Keatts, their former coach, to both honor their accomplishments and to introduce Hargrave’s 2011-2012 PG basketball squad.
Keatts, Howard and West were inducted into Hargrave’s Post-Graduate Hall of Fame during the event. Keatts served as Head Coach for Hargrave’s PG Basketball program from 1999 to 2001 and from 2003 to 2011. During his tenure, he racked up 263 wins to 17 losses and two national championships. After graduating Hargrave in 1999, Howard attended Wake Forest and played NCAA Division I basketball for the school. He was then drafted by the Dallas Mavericks. West also graduated Hargrave in 1999 and attended Xavier University. He was drafted by the New Orleans Hornets. Both Howard and West attended all four years of college, despite having the opportunity to join the NBA sooner.
“Josh and David might not be aware of this, but the fact that both completed college prior to joining the NBA was a point of pride among the faculty and staff at Hargrave,” said William Wiebking, Hargrave’s Director of Communications. “One faculty member at the time simply stated, ‘They’ve made it.’ He referred to their overall character, work ethic, commitment to a task and the fact that they secured their degrees prior to making the ‘money.’ Now both have played long and meaningful careers in the NBA, and the world is theirs to take.
“Coach Keatts ‘always, always, always’ put the academics and total well-being of his players ahead of any one thing the individual might be focused on, both on and off the court. His team extended to the classroom, to the instructors and other adult mentors that were in daily contact with his players. In talking with the media for example, he always stressed his colleagues in Hargrave’s classrooms and military departments. This wasn’t lip service. With over 101 Division I athletes and scores of Division II and III athletes qualified during his time at Hargrave, he is the real deal.”
During the event, Hargrave’s PG Basketball program started its first Hall of Fame, and named all there individuals to it. Large banners celebrating their Hargrave accomplishments now hang in the Academy’s Walter Davis Gymnasium.
Following the ceremonies, Keatts, Howard, West, Hargrave’s Cadets, faculty, staff and local citizens were treated to an inter-squad scrimmage for the crowd. New Head Coach A.W. Hamilton, also a former Hargrave PG Basketball player, had his players take to the court. The black and orange teams really put on a great show.
