Keeton averaged 17.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists last year for Lincoln when the Patriots won their second-straight 12th Region title. He shot 46.5 percent from the field and 75.6 percent at the foul line.
While Northwood has had a basketball program for only two years, it reached the NAIA Division II quarterfinals last season when it finished 27-8.
Well-known coach is a plus
The Red Raiders do have a well-known coach - Rollie Massimino. He led Villanova to the NCAA championship in 1985 when his team stunned heavily favored Georgetown in the title game at Rupp Arena, in what many still regard as one of the biggest upsets ever in the final game.
Massimino had 30 years of major college coaching experience at Stony Brook (2), Villanova (19), Nevada-Las Vegas (2) and Cleveland State (7) before coming to Northwood. He has an overall record of 565-408.
Keeton admits he had "heard about" Massimino but didn't know that much about him until he looked up his accomplishments on the Internet.
"He is a real down-to-earth guy, and he is very, very funny," Keeton, who eventually would like to be a college coach, said.
Massimino plans to be at Lincoln County High School on Tuesday afternoon for signing.
"I think that's really special. I didn't expect him to do it, but he said he would," Keeton said. "I am really looking forward to playing for him. It got me a little more excited when I found out all he had done and all the experience he had."
Keeton also considered playing for Berea or Asbury - which are both much closer to home - before deciding to go south.
"The distance was my only concern, but my family plans to come down every month and my friends have said they will still come down," Keeton said. "I just wanted the best opportunity for me, and this certainly seems to be it."
