PawneeSports
02-16-2006, 08:15 AM
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The Oklahoman
Written by: Brandon Chatmon
Page learned from the best
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Pawnee sophomore's brother played with top college stars
PAWNEE - Pawnee sophomore Keiton Page burst upon the Oklahoma high school basketball scene last March. He was the Class 2A state tournament MVP, averaging 27.7 points to lead Pawnee to the championship.
That's what happens after hours in the same gym as basketball names such as Shelden Williams (Duke), Keleena Azibuike (Kentucky), Kevin Bookout (Oklahoma) and DeAngelo Alexander (Charlotte). Those players were AAU teammates of Brady Page, Keiton's older brother.
Keiton, then in junior high, spent many summer hours around those state stars, learning about what it takes to be a great basketball player.
"We traveled all around the country with them," Keiton said. "It was great to be able to watch those guys and what they did."
Keiton joined Brady and the Athlete's First team throughout the summer of 2001. Keiton was at the Peach Jam in Georgia and watched players such as J.J. Redick and Sean May.
"I think that helped him realize the different levels of competition," said Brady, the leading scorer for nationally ranked Oklahoma Christian University.
"Being around Bookout, Shelden and Keleena. Those guys always talked to him (Keiton), and he'd shoot around with us sometimes. I think knowing how good those players are and where they are today helped him realize where he wants to be in a few years."
Playing against Brady helped Keiton's development as a basketball player, too.
"I've learned so much from him," said Keiton, a 5-foot-9 guard. "He's helped me a lot, going against him and watching him play."
Brady said: "I think we made him better because we made him play harder. He'd go into the house mad then come back out and play harder. We wouldn't let him have anything easy."
Keiton has been around basketball his entire life. He easily could have grown tired of it, but the exact opposite has happened.
Keiton developed a passion for basketball and a desire to become great.
"Basketball is my life. I love it," he said.
Said Brady: "He spends more time in the gym by himself than anyone I've ever met. He just loves basketball."
Keiton was a standout last season as a freshman, averaging 22.4 points. This season, he's even better. He's averaging around 26.0 points a game.
On Feb. 7, he scored 46 points on 12-of-16 shooting from the field in a game against Class 3A's No. 8-ranked Pawhuska. He added seven rebounds, seven assists and six steals.
The combination of shooting, passing and an ability to create off the dribble is what makes Keiton one of the toughest players to guard in Oklahoma.
"That comes from playing with Brady," Keiton said. "I'm just used to playing with bigger, older players. And my dad got me in the weight room so I could take the contact."
The brothers' father, Pawnee coach David Page, recently earned his 1,000th win.
Brady's mentoring is not over, though.
"We talk about him being smarter on the floor and making better decisions," Brady said. "Small things like that, because other parts of his game are really good."
Brady's more than just a mentor, too. He's Keiton's biggest fan.
"I'm very proud of him," Brady said. "I talk about him all the time. He's amazing to me. He's tougher to guard than a lot of the guys I guard right now in college."
The Oklahoman
Written by: Brandon Chatmon
Page learned from the best
http://www.pawneehoops.com/images/Hom2/IMG_9478.jpg
Pawnee sophomore's brother played with top college stars
PAWNEE - Pawnee sophomore Keiton Page burst upon the Oklahoma high school basketball scene last March. He was the Class 2A state tournament MVP, averaging 27.7 points to lead Pawnee to the championship.
That's what happens after hours in the same gym as basketball names such as Shelden Williams (Duke), Keleena Azibuike (Kentucky), Kevin Bookout (Oklahoma) and DeAngelo Alexander (Charlotte). Those players were AAU teammates of Brady Page, Keiton's older brother.
Keiton, then in junior high, spent many summer hours around those state stars, learning about what it takes to be a great basketball player.
"We traveled all around the country with them," Keiton said. "It was great to be able to watch those guys and what they did."
Keiton joined Brady and the Athlete's First team throughout the summer of 2001. Keiton was at the Peach Jam in Georgia and watched players such as J.J. Redick and Sean May.
"I think that helped him realize the different levels of competition," said Brady, the leading scorer for nationally ranked Oklahoma Christian University.
"Being around Bookout, Shelden and Keleena. Those guys always talked to him (Keiton), and he'd shoot around with us sometimes. I think knowing how good those players are and where they are today helped him realize where he wants to be in a few years."
Playing against Brady helped Keiton's development as a basketball player, too.
"I've learned so much from him," said Keiton, a 5-foot-9 guard. "He's helped me a lot, going against him and watching him play."
Brady said: "I think we made him better because we made him play harder. He'd go into the house mad then come back out and play harder. We wouldn't let him have anything easy."
Keiton has been around basketball his entire life. He easily could have grown tired of it, but the exact opposite has happened.
Keiton developed a passion for basketball and a desire to become great.
"Basketball is my life. I love it," he said.
Said Brady: "He spends more time in the gym by himself than anyone I've ever met. He just loves basketball."
Keiton was a standout last season as a freshman, averaging 22.4 points. This season, he's even better. He's averaging around 26.0 points a game.
On Feb. 7, he scored 46 points on 12-of-16 shooting from the field in a game against Class 3A's No. 8-ranked Pawhuska. He added seven rebounds, seven assists and six steals.
The combination of shooting, passing and an ability to create off the dribble is what makes Keiton one of the toughest players to guard in Oklahoma.
"That comes from playing with Brady," Keiton said. "I'm just used to playing with bigger, older players. And my dad got me in the weight room so I could take the contact."
The brothers' father, Pawnee coach David Page, recently earned his 1,000th win.
Brady's mentoring is not over, though.
"We talk about him being smarter on the floor and making better decisions," Brady said. "Small things like that, because other parts of his game are really good."
Brady's more than just a mentor, too. He's Keiton's biggest fan.
"I'm very proud of him," Brady said. "I talk about him all the time. He's amazing to me. He's tougher to guard than a lot of the guys I guard right now in college."