Keefe’s Name, Frame Grows : Woodbridge Sophomore Already Interests Scouts

He’s only 15, but Adam Keefe already shows signs of becoming a civic landmark in Irvine, a city no older than he.

At 6-feet 7-inches and still ascending, Keefe is rapidly approaching the necessary dimensions for landmarks in Irvine, where few buildings top two stories.

His own growth and development is right on pace with that of his expanding hometown. He has added 3 inches and 35 pounds in just a year.

If he continues at his current rate, he may need a personal exemption from city zoning laws.

Nothing would please the tallest student at Woodbridge High School more--unless it’s helping his basketball team become the first in city history to qualify for a 4-A playoff berth in the CIF Southern Section.

The greenbelts of suburban Irvine are a far cry from the blacktop jungles that produce so many of the nation’s finest players.

In Irvine, most courts have something to do with tennis.

Only one Irvine player has ever landed a major college scholarship for basketball--University High’s Jim McLaughlin, who recently graduated from the University of Utah.

Certainly part of the reason is that the city’s youth basketball programs have been in existence less than four years.

Until now, the biggest news in Irvine basketball was an import--6-9 Italian exchange student Marco Baldi, now at St. John’s.

But Keefe’s debut as a varsity starter this month has led many observers to the conclusion that Irvine is on the verge of producing its first home grown basketball star.

Keefe may be 2 1/2 years away from college and still occupied with the nuances of high school Spanish, but his basketball potential has already put Irvine on the college recruiting map.

Stanford, for example, has sent the honor student more than 10 letters, he said. Oregon State also joined the mail campaign.

After watching him play, one scout for a major Southern California university said, “I’d take him right now.”

The funny part was, he was only half kidding.

Here’s the statistical source of Keefe’s appeal. In nine games, he has scored 174 points, an average of 19.3, and recorded 102 rebounds, or 11.3 a game. His shooting percentage is about 65%.

The Warriors, including mainstays Mike Sullivan, Mike Murphy, Bill York and Ali Rounaghi are 7-2, the best start in school history. What’s more, the two losses have been by one basket apiece.

When the Warriors attended a summer tournament at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, the Rebels coaches were amazed by Keefe’s fluidity in running the court, Woodbridge Coach Bill Shannon said.

Keefe is humble about his abilities and seldom satisfied with his efforts.

After sitting on the varsity bench during much of his freshman year as the Warriors limped to a 4-17 record, Keefe spent six days a week in the weight room at El Toro Marine base, where his father is a retired colonel.

Keefe’s level of performance and high standards are partially because he has had more basketball experience than most players from Irvine, Shannon said.

Keefe has played organized basketball since he was a third grader in Yucca Valley. In junior high, he played on traveling teams based in Mission Viejo.

When asked if he had always been tall and well-coordinated, the corners of Keefe’s mouth turned down in his characteristic self-effacing expression.

“Tall,” he replied.

Meaning? “I’m still not too coordinated,’ he said.

But Shannon begs to differ.

“If he’s in the coltish phase, I’m going to be looking good in the next couple years,” the coach said with a grin.

Foothill Coach Jim Reames said he didn’t think his Knights would have much reason to fear Keefe in the third place game of the Irvine Tournament Friday.

Thirty-one Keefe points and a 70-55 Warriors victory later, Reames amended his judgment.

“I didn’t think he was that good going into the game because I hadn’t seen him,” Reames said. “But he is an excellent sophomore player.

“He catches the ball really well against inside traffic, he has a nice touch around the baseline and he’s really mobile for 6-7 1/2.”

Reames said three things particularly impressed him: Keefe’s “unbelievable” shooting percentage, a slam dunk he made on an outlet pass and the fact that he never dropped a pass.

“He has tremendous potential. He’s a very impressive player . . . definitely one of the best sophomores around, if not the best.”