Keith Gatlin

High school career

Gatlin moved to Grimesland, North Carolina and attended D. H. Conley High School in Greenville. He joined the varsity team in 1980 under coach Shelley Marsh. In his junior year he averaged 22 points per game. As a senior, he averaged 25.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 2 blocks and 2.5 steals, leading his team to a 22–4 record.

He was named North Carolina player of the year, selected to the Parade All-America Second Team, and played in the McDonald's All-American Game, scoring 8 points on 3-for-6 shooting and 2-for-2 from the free throw line. He also played in the 1983 Capital Classic in Atlanta, Georgia, scoring 18 points on 5-for-12 shooting and 8-for-8 from the foul line. In his Conley career he scored 1,612 points with a 56% field goal percentage and 92% free throw shooting, averaging at least 6 assists per season.

College career

Gatlin committed to Maryland in October 1982, majoring in radio and television. As a freshman he started 9 of 32 games, averaging 6.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists in 23.7 minutes, with a season-high 19 points against Georgia Tech and 10 assists in the ACC championship final versus Duke, which Maryland won in 1984. He ranked 6th in the ACC in assists, leading all freshmen. In his sophomore season he started under coach Lefty Driesell, averaging 8.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 6.0 assists in 30.6 minutes.

His 221 assists set a Maryland single-season record, surpassing John Lucas II's 178; he also set a single-game record with 13 assists against Virginia on January 30, 1985. On February 28, 1985 he scored a career-high 28 points on 14-for-15 shooting against Clemson. As a junior he averaged career highs of 10.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 6.4 assists. Against North Carolina on February 20, 1986, he made two free throws in overtime and a layup off an inbound pass to secure a 77–72 win.

After the death of Len Bias, Gatlin was suspended for academic issues and missed the entire 1986–87 season. He returned for his senior year in 1987–88, averaging 12.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists, shooting 49.6% from three-point range. In his 4 years at Maryland he totaled 1,087 points and 649 assists, which was an all-time record for Maryland at the time.

Professional career

Gatlin went undrafted in the 1988 NBA draft but was selected 18th overall in the second round of the 1988 CBA draft by the Rockford Lightning. He played the 1988–89 CBA season with the Tulsa Fast Breakers and the Quad City Thunder, averaging 7.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists in 13 regular season games for Quad City, and 7.7 points in 6 playoff games. He also played for the Worcester Counts in the World Basketball League. In 1989–90 he returned to the Quad City Thunder for 5 games, averaging 6.6 points, then finished with the Pensacola Tornados, averaging 8.8 points in 4 playoff games.

In 1990 he joined the New Haven Skyhawks of the USBL, leading the league in free throw percentage at .899 in 1991. He played for the Greensboro City Gaters of the Global Basketball Association in 1991–92. In 1993 he moved to Europe, playing for Brandt Hagen in Germany until 1996, then one season with Panionios in Greece. He signed with MTV Gießen and led the Bundesliga in scoring in 1997–98 with 23.3 points per game, was named an All-Star, and won the 3-point shooting contest at the 1997 BBL All-Star Game.

He scored 2,761 points in the Bundesliga. He then joined Élan Chalon in France's LNB Pro A, averaging 18.8 points (3rd in the league) in 1998–99 on 54.9% shooting, with 2.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.2 steals in 34.5 minutes. In 1999–2000 he averaged 15.9 points, 5.0 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 0.9 steals in 33.9 minutes, earning All-Star and All-Import 2nd team selections. He finished his career with Al Riyadi in Beirut, Lebanon.