How good did Keith play? Good enough that NO ONE wanted to draw him in a tournament, and I mean no one! If he caught his gear, Mizerak, Sigel, Buddy and Earl were all vulnerable. Keith feared no one and took pleasure in beating up the big guns of his era. When it came to gambling (especially at 9-Ball), they pretty much all left him alone (except Louie Roberts, who he had several memorable battles with). Even Buddy and Wade Crane were not looking for games with Keith. Keith ducked nobody!
It wasn't until Efren and Parica came over here that anyone went looking for Keith. He was already a little past his prime by then. Keith's killer years were when he was in his 20's and early 30's. He won the BC Open when he was about 28 or 29. He went through a murderer's row of champions to do it too (Rempe, Hopkins and Sigel among them). Keith never had a close match!
Keith was the closest thing to a pool playing savant I've ever seen. He had a genius for the game that I can't really say I've seen before or since.