The American-Venezuelan former professional basketball player is now using the platform he built during his career to support children, mentor young athletes and contribute to communities in Rwanda.
Keeling, who was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the 1985 NBA Draft, spent a short period in the NBA before building an impressive 18-year international career. He played in France, Israel, Venezuela, the Philippines and Colombia, with 12 years of his career spent in Venezuela, where he became a respected figure in the basketball community.
Today, his focus has shifted from competing on the court to changing lives beyond it.
A basketball court built to create opportunities
During his visits to Rwanda in February 2025, Keeling has worked closely with the Clark family at The Promised Land in Bugesera District, where he has supported children through different community initiatives.
Through his efforts, hundreds of children have received shoes and shirts, while some have also benefited from healthcare support through insurance coverage designed to help them access medical services when needed.
But for Keeling, giving back was not only about providing basic needs. He wanted to create a place where children could discover their talents and experience the same joy that shaped his own childhood.
With support from David Clark, he helped build a basketball court at The Promised Land, giving young people a safe space to play and develop their skills.
'When I was young, I played basketball every day. My mother always had a house or apartment that was right outside of a basketball court. I could look out my window and go out there and play every day,' Keeling said.
He believes access to sports played a major role in his own success.
Growing up, basketball was his main activity after school. His mother encouraged him to first complete his homework, clean his room and finish his responsibilities before going outside to play until the street lights came on.
'That's how I got good. That's part of why I made it to the NBA,' he recalled.
A journey that brought him to Rwanda
Keeling's connection to Rwanda began through basketball.
He first visited the country after reconnecting with his friend James, head coach of APR Basketball Club. Keeling praised May's achievements, including leading APR to major success in African basketball competitions.
After discussing the possibility of visiting Rwanda with May and their friend Keevy Dixon, Keeling eventually travelled to the country, where he connected with David Clark and the Clark family, who welcomed him to stay at The Promised Land.
During his time in Rwanda, he attended basketball games in Kigali and later began visiting nearby communities. It was through those visits that he discovered opportunities to support children who needed assistance.
'When I saw that they needed some things, it was an opportunity for me to be able to help them. It really touched my heart,' he said.
Keeling explained that this was his fourth time returning to Rwanda because of the relationships he has built with the children and communities.
'They like me. I like them. I like being with them. We're happy when we're together,' he said.
Using basketball as a tool for change
For Keeling, basketball has always been more than a sport. He sees it as a tool for discipline, confidence and personal development.
Since arriving in Rwanda, he has organized basketball camps for young players and shared lessons from his own experience as a professional athlete.
He has worked with children at different schools and communities, teaching them basketball skills while encouraging them to believe in themselves.
'I feel blessed that I was put in this position to bless others and that God led me here,' he said.
His humanitarian work has also extended beyond sports.
Through Project Max and Save a Child's Heart, Keeling became involved in an initiative that brought medical professionals, administrators and technicians to Rwanda to support children requiring medical procedures.
The project was initially planned for Ethiopia, but after discussions with partners, the team eventually came to Rwanda, where they worked with local medical institutions.
Keeling said he was grateful that the opportunity brought him back to a country where he had already developed strong connections.
Why Rwanda feels special to him
Beyond his work with children, Keeling said Rwanda's safety, cleanliness and people are among the things that have impressed him the most.
He said he feels comfortable moving around the country, including at night, because of the sense of security he experiences.
'The first thing I would name is it's very safe here. There's hardly any crime. We walk at nighttime. We don't worry about anybody stealing us or robbing us,' he said.
Keeling also praised Rwanda's cleanliness, saying he admires how people protect public spaces and avoid littering.
Another quality he highlighted was the friendliness and unity among Rwandans.
'They're very nice. They're very friendly. They work together. I think that's a wonderful thing,' he said.
The former basketball player also praised Rwanda's development and said he believes the country continues to create opportunities for people from different backgrounds.
