Keith Askins
Class of 2005

Keith Askins
Big-time scoring and high-flying acrobatics may be what lands a college basketball player a spot in the NBA Draft. Top-notch defensive play and occasional offensive exploits may not catch the eye of a scout. But it was those two qualities which landed Athens High's Keith Askins a spot with the Miami Heat.

Askins played for The University of Alabama from 1987-90. While at Alabama, Askins was named the 1990 Paul Bryant ScholarAthlete ofthe year, and was named to the 1989 SEC All-Tournament team after scoring a career-high 23 points against Florida in the championship game.

He was on three SEC Tournament championship teams and one regular season champion. Askins, who currently serves as an assistant coach with the Heat, scored 1,852 points and pulled 1,428 rebounds during a nine-year NBA career from 1991-2000. He had a career-high 21 points on December 1, 1995, against the Charlotte Hornets and 16 rebounds against the Washington Bullets on April 23, 1993.

Askins joined the Heat coaching staff as a volunteer coach under current team president Pat Riley during the 1999-00 season. He was promoted to full-time the following year.