WEST CALDWELL- Addy Keenan knows full well the responsibilities that she will assume next season as the lone senior leading the way for a very promising Caldwell girls basketball team and already with a wealth of experience under her belt, she is excited to face the challenges that await in the upcoming 2026-2027 winter season
For the moment she is trying to enjoy each moment while finishing up a second straight busy summer schedule while playing for United AAU Basketball and with a Chiefs squad that has been competing this month in a competitive summer league at the Clark Recreation Center, all while still very much immersed in all that might ensue in the college recruiting process.
She currently has Division I scholarship offers from Wagner, Rider and St. Peter’s, while other school are certainly still learning more about one of the top returning backcourt performers in the state.
“I’m soaking it all in and while the college recruiting can be a very confusing process at times, I’m trying to enjoy everything during my last ‘live’ period of summer basketball,” said Keenan, who averaged 18.6 points per game while leading Caldwell to a 27-3 record last winter including the program’s first state sectional title in 30 years and a berth in the overall Group 2 state final at Rutgers. “I’m very open to all the possibilities in terms of colleges right now and – depending on how things go over the next several weeks - I could make a decision by the beginning of the school year (with first day of classes on Sept. 2).
“Most of all I’m excited about our Caldwell team looking ahead to next season. We have a lot of experience, even without any other seniors but me, and it’s been a lot of fun playing with them this summer when not traveling with my United-U17 team to tournaments.”
A solid defender on a team known for its defense Keenan has developed one of the better perimeter shots on the statewide scene while also very adept at driving to the basket.
Still, there have been more strides this summer for the Division I prospect.
“I’ve definitely been working more on my mid-range game, while also concentrating on my playmaking skills,” said Keenan. “As a point guard it’s important to be able to set up my teammates in addition to scoring the ball.
“We have a lot of talented girls on our Caldwell team and I am going to do whatever I can to try and involve everyone in our offense.”
Keenan has continued to receive plaudits on her summer performance from a host of posters on social media, including former Fairleigh Dickinson University associate head coach Ellonya ‘Tiny’ Green, who now trains individual players through his ‘Nothing But Skills’ school.
In a July 3 post on ‘X’ (Twitter) he wrote, “Look I’m being straight up real. I have coached most of the best point guards in the state in recent years... not all but the track record is real... do not tell me Addison Keenan takes a backseat to anyone in the "27 class... don't even try it unless you've seen them all in gym.”
Keenan’s mom Amanda, who was Sideline Chatter’ Essex County Coach of the Year after guiding the Chiefs to a terrific 2025-2026 season, certainly appreciates her talented daughter’s efforts during the entire process which has included back-to-back summers of very active ‘live’ periods in July.
“Addy works hard every day and continues to improve her game,” said Coach Keenan. “The summer is the best time to get better and she has been diligent in making sure to do whatever she can to keep improving and taking advantage of all the opportunities to play with her team.
“It’s going to be strange for me to one day not be coaching her, but it’s all part of the process and we look forward to seeing her one day playing college basketball after working to try and lead us to county and state championships in her senior year.”
Caldwell will have to be considered one of the teams to watch on the statewide Group 2 scene next season, and Manasquan, which defeated the Chiefs in last season’s state final, has been moved up to Group 3 for the upcoming school year.
