June 22, 2011

ROCHESTER, Mich. - The 2011 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft will be nationally-televised on Thursday, June 23 at 7 p.m. on ESPN and ESPN3.com. Oakland University's Keith Benson could become the first-ever Golden Grizzly to be selected in the NBA Draft.

Benson, a 6-foot-11 center from Farmington Hills, Mich., led the Golden Grizzlies to consecutive Summit League championships and NCAA tournaments. The Summit League's all-time shot blocker with 371, Benson is the only Summit League player to surpass 1,500 points, 1,000 rebounds and 300 blocked shots. He was named Summit League Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, along with collecting tournament MVP honors and Associated Press All-America honorable mention accolades.

The draft will be held inside the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Benson has worked out with several NBA teams with the last one coming right here in Detroit for the Pistons yesterday.

-OAKLAND-