Keegan McDowell has been “unexpected blessing” for Liberty basketball

When Liberty opened the 2019-20 men’s basketball season on Nov. 8, 2019, it did so with junior Keegan McDowell on the bench in street clothes. Following the season opening win over Radford, Liberty head coach Ritchie McKay announced that the 6’6″ guard from Cincinnati, Ohio had opted to transfer from the program. The Moeller High School product had played in 68 career games at Liberty during his first two seasons with the Flames, averaging 3.3 points per game while shooting 37.1% from three, but he wanted an opportunity for more playing time.

“Keegan has decided to transfer,” McKay said that night. “He wants an opportunity to play more. He let the team know before the game. It was tough, it was emotional.”

“I was mad,” McKay recalled this week of his initial emotions following McDowell’s decision to transfer. “I felt like he had every opportunity to get the minutes that he wanted if he just waited it out. I thought he was short-changing my belief in him, but I loved him and I love him, so I kept him as part of the team.”

He continued to practice with the Flames, sat on the bench with the team during games, and even traveled with the team on road games including a trip to the Bahamas where Liberty won the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase. Shortly after that trip to the Bahamas, McKay felt like it was best for the program if Keegan didn’t see time on the practice court as he was taking valuable practice times from other members of the team who were planning on being part of the program long-term. The two parties agreed to “split” as McKay called it.

As the weeks went by, the divide in McKay’s and McDowell’s relationship widened. The two had different opinions of the situation. McKay thought Keegan should stick around and his time would come, while McDowell thought the grass was greener on the other side of the fence. Still, McKay knew McDowell could provide value to his program. During Liberty’s ASUN conference schedule last season, McKay reached out to McDowell.

“I told him, ‘Man, I think you belong here, why don’t you think about it, pray about it, and see if you want to be back in our program?'”

About two days later, McKay called Keegan to see where he was on the coach’s proposition. McDowell hadn’t had a change of heart. He still felt it was in his best interests to leave the Liberty basketball program. While in the transfer portal, McDowell picked up several offers, including Western Carolina and Wright State. He decided he was going to transfer to Wright State and was committed there.

That remained the plan for McDowell. Meanwhile, Liberty’s 2019-20 historic season came to an abrupt end with the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Tournament short after the Flames had won a second straight ASUN Championship. The COVID-19 pandemic began to make its way to the United States and sports ground to a halt.

Keegan, still a student at Liberty, went on a spring break trip with his friends and several teammates. When he returned to Lynchburg, McDowell was working out with grad assistant and former roommate Zach Farquhar and he was having a change of heart.

“He knew my situation,” McDowell said of Farquhar. “He was just like, ‘if that’s the case, then I would talk to Coach McKay as soon as possible.’ I think that was a Sunday and I think I talked to Coach on Monday.”

McKay at the time was busy putting the final touches on the 2020-21 roster despite not being able to make in-person recruiting visits or have prospects visit Lynchburg because of the pandemic. The Flames had picked up a commitment from grad transfer Chris Parker and had one scholarship spot open. Liberty was flirting with a couple other transfers and was in the process of closing the deal with one when McKay got a surprise phone call. It was Keegan.

“Keegan said, ‘I want to come back,'” recalled McKay. “I said, ‘I’ll pray about it.’ I said I’ll pray about it like a lot of us say I’ll pray about it but no way. I was unsettled that night. I knew what was right. We didn’t need another guard. I felt led to invite him back in our program because I think he deserved an opportunity.”

Last season became a redshirt season for McDowell and he has become a huge contributor to the team through the first six games this season. Keegan was named the ASUN Player of the Week on Monday, the first such honor of his career, following a week where he averaged 14.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in the first two games played at Liberty Arena in wins over St. Francis (PA) and Bluefield College. In the first ever men’s basketball game at the brand new arena, McDowell scored a career-high 21 points. Then, on Saturday, he posted a career-high 7 assists. On the year, he is averaging 9.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting 46.8% from the field and 37.8% from three point range.

“When you’re not getting what you want or what you think you deserve, a lot of times you think the grass is greener somewhere else,” McDowell said. “I think that whole year of not playing and have that kind of taken when I’ve been playing every year for my whole life, it’s just easy to see how much Coach McKay and his staff care for us and are here for us as basketball players. To be able to play with a staff like that no matter what happens, it’s worth it.”

He’s always been a good, spot-up three-point shooter, but this season he has showcased much more to his game. McDowell, being one of only two players on the roster to have played in McKay’s pack-line defense for four years, knows the Liberty defense as good as anyone on the team. He’s also shown an ability to attack the basket off the dribble with pull up mid-range jumpers and floaters in the lane.

“On the court, we always thought he was a good player,” said McKay. “We never wanted Keegan to leave. I just think going through the emotions of that separation and the desire to come back and be accepted and loved and valued, I think it’s accelerated our team’s connection and I think given him a freedom that he’s played with that most seek. I couldn’t be happier for him. He’s really been a special gift for us.”

McDowell said he wasn’t sure how the team would react to him wanting to return after initially leaving, but he says the team has welcomed him back with open arms.

“It’s been rewarding,” said Keegan. “Starting in the spring, just how accepting the guys were when I decided to come back. I didn’t know if I was going to rub people the wrong way, but everyone was so accepting. Then, summer workouts, getting closer with the new guys all the way into the preseason, it’s all been a rewarding process. Now, getting to play has been even better.”

“I really admire Keegan,” McKay said. “I don’t think at that age many people are able to take the risk that he took to ask to come back after he said no when being re-invited. I feel like, for him to do that without any guarantees, I think that’s really unique. I have the utmost respect for him, I really do.”