Hi-Line Athlete Profile: Jesse Keltner, MSU-N basketball

The Montana State University-Northern men's basketball program is in the midst of a solid season as the Lights are 16-7 and are 4-4 in the Frontier Conference. MSU-N junior Jesse Keltner has enjoyed the ride this season with the Lights as he believes they have a great group of guys whether they win or lose.

"I really enjoy the group of guys that coach has brought in. It's really been a lot of fun to just experience these wins and losses with the high-character guys we have," Keltner said. "Through the losses, we've really just stuck together. Every game that we've lost, we haven't been getting on ourselves, we've really learned from each loss and just improved."

Keltner has been an impact player for the Lights this season. He is averaging 10.5 points a game on 57.6 percent shooting from the field as he has started every game for the Lights this year. He tends to make himself at home in the post, where he makes an impact cleaning up the boards averaging seven rebounds a game.

"As I grew up, I was bigger than everybody else and I was put in that position. I think through my rebounding, I really just found my niche and I was just able to contribute on the defensive side," Keltner said about playing in the post. "My mom used to tell me when I was going through a rut when I was in high school, 'Why are you trying to do so much, just go back to what you're good at and rebound and that's where you really succeed.' Ever since then, it's just what I do."

Keltner is originally from Anacortes, Washington, an island town of about 15,000 on the coast. While he had to go to bigger cities such as Seattle in order to gain more exposure to the game of basketball, growing up on the island was a great experience.

"It's an amazing place," Keltner said. "There's so many things to do. So many sites and so many cool people."

Keltner has made MSU-N and Havre home the past three years. Keltner said he prefers the big city, but he has adjusted to the smaller community and has grown to love it.

"I really like cities and a lot of people and a lot of action so it's definitely an adjustment that I had to go through," Keltner said. "But I've really grown to enjoy the community and how much they're involved with sports, school and everything like that. Just coming from Washington, how included I feel over these past three years and it's just been awesome."

At MSU-N, Keltner is studying business administration and is taking a minor in small business management. After college, he hopes to go into the hospitality industry. He dreams of owning and running his own hotel one day, but knows he will have to start at the bottom and work his way up.

Sports have been a huge part of Keltner's life growing up. Keltner's younger brother is a tight end on Northern's football team. Along with basketball, he participated in sports such as track, swimming and football during his youth. He also enjoys playing volleyball, as his mom is a volleyball coach and three of his sisters have played volleyball as well. When he goes home, he spends time with his family hiking across the island.

The Lights will continue their season tonight when they head to Dillon for a conference game against Montana Western. They will then head to Butte on Saturday for a conference game against Montana Tech. Before the Lights began their road trip, the Havre Daily News got the chance to ask Keltner five questions.

HDN: Over the years, what have you grown to love the most about basketball?

Keltner: "I've grown to love just how it takes more than athleticism and talent. It really is a mind game, too, at the end of the day, especially in our conference. I came in being athletic but I had to change my game just so I could fit into the league, because there's so much more than just running plays and stuff like that. It's all mental, and it's not only helped me on the basketball floor. It's helped me mature and just be a better person."

HDN: As a student-athlete, how do you manage all that responsibility?

Keltner: "Time management has always been one of the harder things to manage but as I've grown up, I've matured. Going through the seasons, I've slowly started setting out times where I can go sit in the library and study for good chunks of time."

HDN: What are your biggest motivations in basketball?

Keltner: "My biggest motivations are, first and foremost, God. That's how I've been raised and that's how I really live my life. I always had a faith background and that's definitely at the highest spot. Also my family because I'm close with them, and they've always pushed me to do what I can do and to the best of my abilities. They've just encouraged me a lot to keep pursuing basketball."

HDN: With about a month left in the season, what do you hope to accomplish?

Keltner: "I'm really just looking forward to seeing how far we can go in the conference because I believe we are one of the best teams. If we play to our best abilities, we can definitely go just far as any other team. I'm just looking forward to having a successful season and contributing in ways that I haven't in the past."

HDN: Your bio said Chicago Bulls' guard Lonzo Ball is your favorite athlete. Are you a Bulls fan or have you always been a fan of his?

Keltner: "I've always been a fan of his. He hasn't always been the best offensive player but he'a always been a great defender and he's just worked hard and now he's actually improved most of his game. He still contributes to his team and in a way leads his team. I just enjoy watching him develop and go through all of the social media and fame that he had when he was young."