The owner of several NCAA Division I shotblocking records, Keith Closs was signed as a free agent by the Los Angeles Clippers on August 8, 1997 after playing in the Atlantic Basketball Association during the 1996-97 season. He played in 58 games in his initial NBA season, making one start, and he led the team in blocked shots despite limited playing time. He logged just 87 minutes in 15 games in his second campaign. Closs spent 1996-97 with the Norwich Neptunes of the Atlantic Basketball Association after playing two seasons at Central Connecticut State. In 12 games for Norwich, he averaged 12.3 ppg and 6.3 rpg and blocked 60 shots for a league-leading 5.0 bpg. In 54 career college games, Closs averaged 11.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg and 5.87 bpg, setting a NCAA Division I record for highest career blocked shots average. He was named First Team All-Mid-Continent Conference following his sophomore season, when he averaged 13.5 ppg, a team-leading 9.3 rpg and 6.36 bpg, a Division I single-season record. He registered a pair of triple-doubles and scored a career-high 34 points vs. Troy State. As a freshman, Closs averaged 5.35 bpg to led the nation in blocked shots per game, set a CCSU school record for a season (139) and a Division I record for first-year players. Though he played just 12.8 minutes per game for the Clippers as a rookie, he led the team with 81 blocked shots and an average of 1.40 bpg. With top draft choice Michael Olowokandi taking over the center position, Closs played a reduced role in 1998-99, appearing in just 15 games. He missed 12 because of a knee injury and sat out the remainder on coach s decision.

1999-2000 REGULAR SEASON
Placed on the injured list with lower back spasms on 3/7 Posted 10 points and 8 rebounds in a 103-99 win in Golden State on 12/22

1998-1999 REGULAR SEASON
On the injured list from 4/3 to 4/23 due to right patella tendinitis Registered 9 points (4-6 FG) and 3 rebounds, in 13 minutes, against the L.A. Lakers on 3/9

1997-1998 REGULAR SEASON
Blocked a season-high 6 shots, adding 4 points and 4 rebounds, against the San Antonio Spurs on 1/28 Scored 12 points, on 6-of-6 shooting from the field, and grabbed 3 rebounds in a 110-102 win over the Vancouver Grizzlies on 1/7 Grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds and blocked 4 shots against the Sacramento Kings on 1/6 Totaled 9 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in a 97-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on 1/3 Recorded 12 points, 6 rebounds and 5 blocked shots against the L.A. Lakers on 12/26 Made his first career NBA start, scoring 4 points (2-2 FG) in 8 minutes, against the Seattle SuperSonics on 12/14 Registered a team-high 15 points and 5 rebounds against the Atlanta Hawks on 12/12 Posted 10 points, 5 rebounds and 4 blocked shots against the Atlanta Hawks on 11/16 Scored 9 points (3-3 FG, 3-4 FG) and blocked 3 shots, in 9 minutes, against the Phoenix Suns on 11/8 Made his NBA debut against the Portland Trail Blazers on 11/1

• Names "Giant Steps" by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as his favorite book
• Is the oldest of six children, with 4 brothers and one sister