Former NCAA basketball star Keith Appling pleads guilty to murder in 2021

Former Michigan basketball player Keith Applin has pleaded guilty to the 2021 murder, CBS Detroit reports.

Aplin, 31, pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder and firearms charges, CBS Detroit reported. He faces 18 to 40 years in prison for the murder and two years for the firearms charge. Appling is due to be sentenced on March 3.

According to a report by CBS Detroit, Apple is facing accusations of shooting and killing Clyde Edmonds, a 66-year-old man who was the husband of Apple's mother's cousin, during a shootout that occurred in May 2021. Prosecutors said Apple fled the scene after shooting Edmonds multiple times.

CBS Detroit reported that Natalie Bannister, who used to be Apple's girlfriend and is 30 years old, received an 18-month probation sentence after admitting in July 2022 to lying to a police officer.

As a former All-Star, Apple started 154 games and scored 1,509 points in his four-year career with the Spartans, according to CBS Sports 2021. He played in 5 NBA games for the Orlando Magic in 2016.

Wayne County Attorney Kenworthy said in his prosecution that Apple's downward spiral was "tragic."

"It's clear this individual has been in a downward spiral for some time," Worthy said. "A lot of people who tried to intervene with this defendant wanted him to take the lead and stay there. It's always tragic when a man of such potential, talent, and potential is accused of the worst crimes

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