Evergreen’s Eli Keifer Signs with National Champion Trine University

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Eli Keifer, sharp shooting guard of the Evergreen Vikings basketball team, signed a National Letter of Intent to continue his education and basketball career at Trine University in Angola, Indiana, the newly crowned NCAA DIII Men’s Basketball National Champion.   In joining the Thunder basketball program, Eli will be under the tutelage of NCAA DIII Men’s Basketball 2023-2024 Coach of the Year and 1999 Evergreen graduate, Brooks Miller.  Coach Miller played basketball for the Vikings and for Eli’s father, Jerry Keifer, who retired this year after 31 seasons at the helm.

“The connection is obviously the best part.  I have a former teammate (Evan Lumbrezer ‘23) that goes there and the academic aspect of it is really intriguing,” explained Eli.  “I’ve grown up going to all the camps and I’ve always been drawn to Trine because of the connection so, that’s where I’m ending up.”  When asked about becoming a part of a national championship program, Eli said, “It’s exciting.  Obviously, they’ve got a bunch of guys ahead of me, but any impact I can make I’m willing to do.”

 The other part of the connection is Brooks Miller having spent four years being coached by Jerry Keifer and will now be coaching his former mentor’s son.  “It’s very special. I’m very close to Coach Miller and that’s never going to change,” said Jerry.  “I’m excited to see what happens next and I know Eli is excited about getting there.”  Coach Keifer is also excited about being just a dad and a fan after running a very successful Viking basketball program for over three decades and chalking up over 400 wins.

For Eli, the academic aspect will be studying to earn an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science and pursue a PhD after that.

Click on the link above to access photos from the event. Photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded for NO CHARGE courtesy of the fultoncountymedia.com website.

Photo: Eli Keifer signs along side father and coach Jerry, mother Dorinda and sister Kennedi.

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