Keefe becomes the off-and-on Bruin

But four years later, Keefe was a high school All-American and on his way to UCLA, dunking just fine.

So Keefe has overcome mishap and injury before.

This season, the 6-foot-8, 220-pound sophomore got tangled up in another injury -- one that led to a readjustment of his expectations.

In a matter of months, Keefe went from feeling bold anticipation for a season he had strenuously prepared for, to accepting that he wouldn't play in a game after undergoing shoulder surgery last August.

And now he has adjusted again. As sixth-ranked UCLA prepares to play USC on Sunday at the Galen Center, Keefe is locating, bit by bit, the pieces of his game shattered Aug. 10 when he was diagnosed with a torn labrum.

After being told he would redshirt, spending the season working to get back to where he was 100% physically, Keefe was brought back to active status last month after teammate Michael Roll reinjured a foot.

Keefe is averaging 2.1 points and 2.0 rebounds in 11.4 minutes a game in 11 games. Modest numbers without any spectacular plays to mark his contributions.

But a three-point basket against Washington State last week, shot with a quick release and some swagger, earned a positive comment from Bruins Coach Ben Howland.

And the way Keefe is playing defense with his upper body, creating space by moving his shoulders instead of placing his hands on an opponent's back and getting a foul call earned notice from teammate Kevin Love.

It has been baby steps for Keefe since his first game, Jan. 3 at Stanford, when he played four minutes and didn't score.

Relocating his instincts for the finer points -- where to cut, where to pass, when to crash the boards, when to double team on defense -- has been as difficult as rebuilding his physical strength.

"When you are taken away from the court for four months," Keefe said, "you get a little shaky and iffy in a lot of areas. Every day the game feels a little better for me, a little more familiar. This season has taken so many turns and nothing has gone the way we planned."

Joedy Gardner, who has coached and trained Keefe for nearly a decade, said Keefe is the most ego-less all-star whom with he has worked.