Keith Benson
Encyclopedia
Keith A. Benson, Jr. is a professional basketball
player for the Atlanta Hawks
of the NBA
. He previously played for the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) Division I Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball
team. Benson plays center
and is the current The Summit League player of the year. Benson was drafted with the 18th pick of the 2nd round of the 2011 NBA Draft
.
in Beverly Hills, Michigan
where he averaged only 6.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as a senior. Benson initially committed to Fairfield
, but changed his mind after a coaching change and committed to Oakland after they offered him a scholarship. Benson was also offered a scholarship from Howard
.
ing his first year at Oakland, Benson became a starter for the 2007–08 season
. Benson started 20 of the team's 29 games and averaged 5.2 points and 3.5 rebounds. He finished the season with 40 blocks—one shy of Oakland's single-season record. However, he was benched prior to the conference tournament because OU's head coach, Greg Kampe
, felt Benson was not playing good enough defense.
At the conclusion of his redshirt junior season, Benson received the Lou Henson Award
, given to the "mid-major player of the year". Benson was also named The Summit League Player of the Year. Benson declared himself eligible for the 2010 NBA Draft
, but withdrew himself after he was unable to work out with NBA teams due to an injured right thumb.
During his senior season, Benson set The Summit League's record for career blocks. He broke the record of 317, set by Keith Closs
of Central Connecticut State University
from 1994–96.
Benson was named The Summit League's Player of the Year for the second consecutive season in 2011.
(48th overall) by the Atlanta Hawks
. Benson is the first player ever from Oakland University selected in the NBA Draft
. In August 2011 he signed a one-year contract with Dinamo Basket Sassari
in Italy
's Serie A League, which includes an opt-out clause if the 2011 NBA lockout
ends, but left the team in October 2011.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player for the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. He previously played for the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) Division I Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball
Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball
The Oakland Golden Grizzlies are the men's basketball team that represent Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, USA. The school's team competes in The Summit League and plays their home games at the Athletics Center O'Rena. The Golden Grizzlies are coached by Greg Kampe...
team. Benson plays center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
and is the current The Summit League player of the year. Benson was drafted with the 18th pick of the 2nd round of the 2011 NBA Draft
2011 NBA Draft
The 2011 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...
.
High school
Benson attended Detroit Country Day SchoolDetroit Country Day School
Detroit Country Day School is a private, secular school located in four campuses in Oakland County, Michigan, north of Detroit. The administrative offices, facility services, safety and security services, and the upper school are located in a campus in Beverly Hills, along with the middle school...
in Beverly Hills, Michigan
Beverly Hills, Michigan
Beverly Hills is a village in Southfield Township, Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a suburb of Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,267.-Geography:...
where he averaged only 6.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as a senior. Benson initially committed to Fairfield
Fairfield Stags men's basketball
The Fairfield Stags men's basketball team represents Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut and competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference of NCAA Division I. The Stags play their home games in the 9,500 seat, state of the art Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut and plays...
, but changed his mind after a coaching change and committed to Oakland after they offered him a scholarship. Benson was also offered a scholarship from Howard
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
.
College
After redshirtRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
ing his first year at Oakland, Benson became a starter for the 2007–08 season
2007–08 Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team
The 2007–08 Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team represented Oakland University in the 2007–08 college basketball season. Oakland was coached by Greg Kampe and played their home games at the Athletics Center O'Rena. The Golden Grizzlies finished the season 17–14 overall and 11–7 in The...
. Benson started 20 of the team's 29 games and averaged 5.2 points and 3.5 rebounds. He finished the season with 40 blocks—one shy of Oakland's single-season record. However, he was benched prior to the conference tournament because OU's head coach, Greg Kampe
Greg Kampe
Greg Kampe is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at Oakland University. He guided the Golden Grizzlies to their first NCAA Division I tournament and tournament win in 2005...
, felt Benson was not playing good enough defense.
At the conclusion of his redshirt junior season, Benson received the Lou Henson Award
Lou Henson Award
The Lou Henson Award is an award given annually by CollegeInsider.com to the most outstanding mid-major men's college basketball player in NCAA Division I competition. The award, established in 2010, is named for legendary Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Lou Henson. Henson, who also coached at...
, given to the "mid-major player of the year". Benson was also named The Summit League Player of the Year. Benson declared himself eligible for the 2010 NBA Draft
2010 NBA Draft
The 2010 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2010 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The draft, which started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur...
, but withdrew himself after he was unable to work out with NBA teams due to an injured right thumb.
During his senior season, Benson set The Summit League's record for career blocks. He broke the record of 317, set by Keith Closs
Keith Closs
Keith Mitchell Closs, Jr. is an American professional basketball player, at the center position.-Basketball career:Closs, at 7-feet, 3-inches and 212 lbs...
of Central Connecticut State University
Central Connecticut State University
Central Connecticut State University is a state university in New Britain, Connecticut, United States.The school was moved to its present campus in 1922...
from 1994–96.
Benson was named The Summit League's Player of the Year for the second consecutive season in 2011.
Professional
After being projected as a late-second round pick, Benson was selected with the 18th pick of the second round2011 NBA Draft
The 2011 NBA Draft was held on June 23, 2011 at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The draft started at 7:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time , and was broadcast in the United States on ESPN. In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball...
(48th overall) by the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
. Benson is the first player ever from Oakland University selected in the NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
. In August 2011 he signed a one-year contract with Dinamo Basket Sassari
Dinamo Basket Sassari
Dinamo Basket Sassari is an Italian professional basketball club based in Sassari, Sardinia.The club plays in the Italian Serie A, the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball....
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
's Serie A League, which includes an opt-out clause if the 2011 NBA lockout
2011 NBA lockout
The 2011 NBA lockout is the fourth lockout in the history of the National Basketball Association . The owners began the work stoppage at 12:01 am EDT on July 1, 2011. The main issues dividing the owners and the players are revenue sharing and the structure of the salary cap...
ends, but left the team in October 2011.