Ex-Michigan State Basketball Player Keith Appling Sentenced in Murder Trial

Keith Appling, a former Michigan State basketball guard, was sentenced over the fatal shooting of a 66-year-old Clyde Edmond during an argument over a gun.

March 7, 2023

Former Michigan State basketball player Keith Appling was sentenced Friday to up to 40 years in prison over the fatal shooting of 66-year-old Clyde Edmonds in 2021.

Appling, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last month, has been ordered to serve between 18 to 40 years behind bars, in addition to two years for a felony firearm charge, as reported by the Associated Press.

“What an extremely sad turn of events for a man that once had a promising future,” prosecutor Kym Worthy said in a release. “This was a senseless crime, and the fact remains that his victim will never know another day of life.”

Appling shot Edmonds on May 22, 2021 following a dispute over a handgun. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Authorities claim Edmonds and Appling’s mother are first cousins.

Appling’s girlfriend Natalie Bannister drove him away from the scene of crime. Bannister has been sentenced to 16 months of probation after pleading guilty to one count of lying to a police officer. Her accessory to the shooting charge was dismissed.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Appling was named the 2010 Michigan Mr. Basketball coming out of Detroit Pershing. He played for Michigan State from 2010 to 2014, and led his team in scoring during his junior year.

After going undrafted, Appling spent brief stints with two NBA G-League teams. He went on to play professional basketball overseas until 2019 in Italy.