Ryan Keegan Ryan Keegan was not going to play his high school basketball anywhere but at Howell High School.
“I’m proud of Howell,” he said. “It’s my hometown. It’s where all my friends are.”
Keegan’s goal was to help improve the Howell boys basketball program and he has done that. With Keegan as a three-year starter at guard, the Rebels have had winning seasons each year and they have qualified for the Shore Conference Tournament and the Central Jersey state sectional tournament.
While turning the Rebels into a consistent winner, Keegan also gave Howell something to be proud about when he became the school’s all-time leading scorer.
In a game at Manalapan on Feb. 7, Keegan surpassed Dwayne Ailey’s school record of 1,218 points when he made a free throw. It was only fitting that he reached the milestone against the Braves, because he had scored his 1,000th career point against Manalapan earlier in the season. “I am real proud of the record,” said Keegan. “It’s special. I’m really happy.”
Keegan was even happier that his team beat the Braves, 57-44.
“I try not to look at it (the scoring record),” he said. “It’s more of a team game. I don’t really care about how many points I score. All I want to do is win.”
Wining is what the Rebels have done during Keegan’s years as a starter.
Coach Brian Quick said Keegan will leave the Howell boys basketball program in far better shape than it was before he arrived on the scene.
When the Rebels played Freehold Township on Feb. 10 at home, Keegan received a treat — he got to meet the player whose record he has been chasing all year. Ailey returned to his alma mater to meet the new record holder.
“He was really cool,” Keegan said. “He told me he was proud of me and that he was surprised the record was broken.”
Keegan, who bruised his ribs in the Freehold Township game and played less than one quarter, finished last week with 1,237 career points, making him the sixth highest scorer in Freehold Regional High School District history.
Manalapan High School graduate Jack Perri (1,267) and Freehold High School graduate Derrick Hamilton (1,295) are within Keegan’s reach if Howell can make a run and play several games in the postseason tournaments.
Manalapan High School graduate Ed Zucker is the FRHSD’s all-time scoring leader with 1,861 points.