Trevor Keels Bio
Trevor Jamaal Keels is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, he plays the shooting guard position and has built a reputation as a hard-nosed perimeter defender and three-point shooter. Keels played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils before turning professional in 2022.
A consensus five-star recruit out of high school, Keels was regarded as one of the top shooting guards in the 2021 class. He was selected 42nd overall by the New York Knicks in the 2022 NBA Draft and has since spent time in the NBA G League, sharpening his skills as he works toward an extended NBA role.
Early Life and Background
Trevor Jamaal Keels was born on August 26, 2003, in Clinton, Maryland, in the United States. Growing up in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, he developed his basketball foundation in a region known for producing competitive guards and versatile wings. His early years were shaped by competitive youth basketball, where his size, length, and court vision began to stand out among his peers.
Keels attended Paul VI Catholic High School in Chantilly, Virginia, a program with a strong national reputation for developing college and professional talent. There, he played alongside future Duke teammate Jeremy Roach, an experience that helped sharpen his understanding of high-level team basketball. The school’s demanding schedule within the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference gave him early exposure to elite competition.
Path to Basketball
Keels first received an NCAA Division I scholarship offer from Wake Forest just three games into his high school career, an early sign of his long-term potential. As he progressed through Paul VI Catholic, he emerged as one of the most decorated high school players in the country, earning selections to the McDonald’s All-American Game, the Jordan Brand Classic, and the Nike Hoop Summit.
By the time he was a senior, Keels was averaging 28.7 points, 9.1 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 3.8 steals per game, while also leading Paul VI to a state title as a junior. On April 2, 2021, he announced his commitment to Duke over other offers from Virginia, Villanova, and Kentucky, choosing to develop his game under Hall of Fame head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final coaching staff.
Trevor Keels Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Keels arrived at Duke as one of the most anticipated freshmen in the program. In his collegiate debut, a 79–71 win over Kentucky, he erupted for 25 points, immediately establishing himself as a confident scorer and playmaker at the college level. He finished his lone season at Duke averaging 11.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.
His productive freshman campaign was recognized with a selection to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) All-Rookie Team, an honor that reflected his immediate impact on one of college basketball’s most storied programs. Following the season, Keels declared for the 2022 NBA Draft and confirmed on June 1, 2022, that he would remain in the draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility.
Westchester Knicks Era (2022–2023)
Keels was selected with the 42nd overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. On July 10, 2022, he signed a two-way contract with the Knicks, splitting his time between the NBA roster and their NBA G League affiliate, the Westchester Knicks. The arrangement was designed to give him consistent professional minutes while adjusting to the speed and physicality of the next level.
On February 23, 2023, the Knicks converted his deal to a 10-day contract, which expired on March 5 and sent him back to Westchester. Shortly after, on March 12, Keels signed another two-way contract with the Knicks. The following summer, on July 19, 2023, he signed a fresh two-way deal with the team, but was waived on July 26, opening the door for his next chapter.
Iowa Wolves Era (2023–2025)
On September 28, 2023, Keels signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves but was waived on October 20. Nine days later, he joined the Iowa Wolves, Minnesota’s G League affiliate, where he settled into a featured role. He continued to refine his perimeter shooting and defensive intensity within the Timberwolves’ developmental system.
On September 25, 2024, Keels re-signed with the Timberwolves, only to be waived the following day, and on October 25, he rejoined Iowa for another season. Across his time in Des Moines, he became a steady scoring option and one of the team’s more reliable perimeter defenders.
Miami Heat and Sioux Falls Skyforce Era (2025–Present)
On July 28, 2025, the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League acquired Keels’ rights, positioning him for a fresh opportunity within the Miami Heat organization. He quickly made an impression, highlighted by a historic shooting performance on January 9, 2026, when he went 12-for-12 from three-point range and set the G League record for most made threes in a game without a miss, finishing with 46 points. He was named G League Rookie of the Week on January 13.
On February 18, 2026, Keels signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat, formally joining the NBA roster while maintaining his G League assignment with the Skyforce. The deal marked the next step in his steady climb back toward a full-time NBA role.
Notable Events and Milestones
Keels’ 12-for-12 three-point performance for the Skyforce stands as the defining milestone of his professional career to date, a record-setting night that underscored the shooting stroke scouts had long recognized. Earlier in his career, his 25-point debut against Kentucky announced his arrival at Duke, while his ACC All-Rookie Team selection validated his freshman impact.
Trevor Keels Career Wins
Trevor Jamaal Keels’ career is still in its early stages, and his on-court resume is built around consistent development rather than a long list of major victories. His most celebrated individual achievement remains the G League record he set with the Skyforce in January 2026, a performance that announced his arrival as a perimeter threat at the professional level.
Other Wins and Performances
At Paul VI Catholic, Keels led the program to a Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I state title during his junior season and was later named Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year. Those high school accolades, combined with his selection to the McDonald’s All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic, and Nike Hoop Summit, form the foundation of his competitive résumé.
Trevor Keels Family
Personal Life
Trevor Jamaal Keels has maintained a relatively private personal life as he has navigated the early stages of his professional basketball career. He is known to have come of age in a supportive environment in the Clinton, Maryland area before moving on to Paul VI Catholic High School in Virginia and later Duke. Public details about his immediate family have not been widely disclosed, and he has kept his focus on his development as a player.
2025 Season Performance
Trevor Jamaal Keels’ 2025–2026 campaign has been the most productive stretch of his professional career to date. After his rights were acquired by the Sioux Falls Skyforce in July 2025, he established himself as one of the team’s primary scoring options in the G League, and his historic 12-for-12 three-point performance in January 2026 served as the headline moment of his season.
His play earned him G League Rookie of the Week honors on January 13, and on February 18, 2026, his strong form translated into a two-way contract with the Miami Heat. The agreement gave him an opportunity to compete for NBA minutes while continuing to develop with the Skyforce.
Looking ahead, Keels enters the remainder of the 2025–2026 season with momentum, having proven his shooting touch against professional competition and earned a path back to the NBA. His continued growth with the Heat organization will be the defining storyline as he works to secure a more permanent role at the highest level.
