As one of three seniors on this year’s men’s basketball team, guard Lorenzo Keeler knows what it means to work your way to the top.
He learned the meaning of hard work and dedication growing up in a single-parent household in Escondido, Calif. The inspiration his mother, Josie Keeler, gives him is enough to make him want to repay her for her sacrifices.
Keeler remembers his mom waking up early and making breakfast and dinner in the morning since she knew she wouldn’t be home to cook for the boys in the evening. She would constantly encourage him to follow his dreams of making it big with basketball and told him not to let anyone tell him differently.
“To me that was really special,” he said. “Obviously I can’t repay her for everything.”
Despite working three jobs to support her four young boys, Ms. Keeler took the time to make sure that her sons stayed in line even while she was at work. Her house served as the neighborhood basketball court where Keeler and his brothers’ friends play basketball after school.
As the second oldest of his brothers, Keeler always felt like he had to keep with his older brother, Josie Keeler said. Josie Keeler remembers how the other older kids would challenge Keeler to a round of basketball because he was so small and gifted.
“He was always very competitive. He always had a love for the game early on,” Josie Keeler said.
Keeler eventually wants to be able to provide for his mom so she doesn’t have to work as much.
“That’s one thing (my family and I) joke about now,” Keeler said. “My little nephew says, ‘You need to hurry up and make money so Nana doesn’t have to work so hard!'”
Even today, though his mom can’t make it to his games, his mom encourages Keeler over the phone. He said his mom gets on his case after he doesn’t perform to his fullest in a game.
“I’m gonna push him to do what he needs to do. I know that when I do that, it shows in the next game,” Josie Keeler said.
Josie Keeler said she’s unable to take credit for all of Keeler’s accomplishments. His talent combined with his committed coaches throughout grade school and high school paved the way for Keeler’s success in college, she said.
Once he graduates, Keeler plans to play ball overseas. He said he wants to wait until after Cal Poly’s basketball season and after he has earned a degree to consider a professional career. His mother always told Keeler that his education came first and that basketball is a tool to completing his education.
“I’m already proud of him that he’s gotten this far and that he’s going to graduate,” Josie Keeler said. As for continuing his basketball career after college, she knows her son will be successful. “He’ll be playing basketball for a little while longer before he settles down to get a job.”
Concentrating on his last season at Cal Poly, Keeler recognizes that this year’s young team has its work cut out for it. With new teammates and a new coach, he said that as the season progresses, the team will learn how to play well together.
Keeler is looking forward to the day he can repay his mother for providing for him by telling her to take some time off of work and flying her to one of his games overseas.
“He’s always looking out for me. It just touches my heart. I work hard right now with what I do, and he knows that,” Josie Keeler said.