May 17, 2024

OC Sports Zone: Community First

Adam Keefe talks NBA hoops

Adam Keefe became the first to be inducted into the Woodbridge Athletic Hall of Fame. 

Adam Keefe, who became the first inductee into the Woodbridge Athletic Hall of Fame, talked about his 10-year NBA experience which included stints with Atlanta, Golden State and Utah and his high school career. Keefe led Woodbridge to the state title and CIF title in 1987.

What stands out about your experience in the NBA?

Keefe: It was very fun to play with the Utah Jazz when our team was so good. We had super stars. I was definitely not a super star but to be an important part of a team that was so successful was a ton of fun. We had great teammates who were great basketball players.

Talk about the memories of being drafted and the party at Lamppost Pizza:

Keefe: We decided not to go to New York. We didn’t want to do that. We wanted to stay here with family and friends and the people who helped me get there. We had the big day at Lamppost. It was just really fun.

Do you still follow the NBA?

Keefe: I do. I have friends and teammates who do a lot of coaching and certain players I enjoy following. I cheer for people who I know and people who I know are good people and have success.

Talk about your family:

Keefe: We have four kids. We have twin daughters who are sophomores in college, a junior in high school and an eighth grade daughter. Our son is a good basketball player. He’s a junior in high school and he’s trying to figure out if or which college he might be able to play for.

Talk about the induction ceremony:

Keefe: It’s very touching and great. I feel like I had the greatest group of teammates ever. I had some accomplishments, but if you look back at the people I played with, the fact that all those people went to one public high school from one neighborhood and no one transferred in (stands out). You look at our back-up point guard, Derrick Odum took a full ride to University of Utah where he played two sports. Dave Townsend was the starting tailback at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Vince Bryan had a full scholarship to BYU and the list just went on and on. We had a very talented group of people.

You still play basketball?

Keefe: Not at all. I’ll rebound for my son or daughters if they want a rebounder. But that’s it.