As teammate Matt Bakke recounts, the big games brought out the best in Mike O’Keefe. And basketball skills and success don’t get any better than Mike’s best. The Memphis Commercial Appeal, in fact, recognized him as one Memphis’ most notable athletes in the 20th century.
Mike O’Keefe is Rhodes’ greatest all-around basketball player. As Coach Herb Hilgeman says, “Mike could defend, block shots, rebound, run the floor and score from anywhere.” Twice selected as the Most Valuable Player in the College Athletic Conference, Mike ranks fourth in all-time scoring at Rhodes with 1655 points, having established this mark in just three years of playing for the Lynx.
He led the 1979-80 and 1980-81 Rhodes teams to appearances in the NCAA Division III Final Four. Mike set three college records his junior year in a game against Millsaps when he scored 43 points on a 21 of 31 field goal shooting performance. He also holds the single season scoring record of 688 points.
Mike graduated from Rhodes with a degree in Economics and Business Administration. Currently, he is a Managing Director at Morgan Keegan and serves his alma mater as a member of the College’s Board of Trustees.
In recognition of an athlete whose drive for drive for excellence on and off the court has brought distinction to Rhodes, we are honored to induct MICHAEL G. O’KEEFE into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame this 20th day of October, 2000.
