Keiton Page Overcomes Short Stature With Hard Work

Page has evolved into OSU's most dynamic scoring threats.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:08 pm

By: News On 6

Keiton Page Overcomes Short Stature With Hard Work

Originally Published: Jan 7, 2011 1:7 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

STILLWATER, Oklahoma – Keiton Page’s most obvious feature, especially being a basketball player, is his height. Or lack therof.

Standing at 5-foot-9, Page does not have the prototypical size that college basketball program’s pursue. But the Oklahoma State Cowboys took a chance on the small guard, and it proved to be a good decision.

Page grew up in Pawnee, Oklahoma, and his dream was always to play basketball for the Cowboys. He spent his life trying to make that dream a reality.

“I’ve just grown up around it,” Page said. “I’ve been in every gym imaginable growing up, playing with my older brother. I’m in the gym with him constantly, so I’ve been in the gym since I was a little kid.”

Page’s dream came true when OSU’s coach at the time, Sean Sutton, offered him a scholarship in 2008. Shortly afterward, Sutton resigned and was replaced by Travis Ford, whom Page had never met.

“Losing Coach Sutton was a big deal, but now I’ve got Coach Ford,” Page said. “It couldn’t have been better for me; it put me in a great situation. Coach Ford is a great coach.”

Page has developed into one of OSU’s most reliable scorers, and is a favorite both of fans and his teammates.

“Keiton is one my favorite players I’ve ever been on a team with,” forward Marshall Moses said. “I’ve never seen anybody that small or that ‘non-athletic’ be this good in this league.”

Page was predominantly a complementary piece when he first arrived at OSU, but since he has become a consistent problem for opponents.

“As a sophomore, we had one Batman and two Robins, and [Page] was one of those guys,” Coach Ford said. “But now he’s become a little bit more of the Batman-type guy, who’s on the scouting report talked about the most. It’s evolved, and he’s handled it well.”