ROCHESTER, Mich. — With another NBA Draft in the books, we continue to remind everyone of Oakland's rich history of producing basketball players who have played at the highest level. 

Next up for the Golden Grizzlies is Keith Benson, arguably one of the best players in Summit League history. 

Unlike Oakland's other three NBA products, Benson had to wait for his opportunity to shine in the Black and Gold. The big man out of Detroit Country Day redshirted the 2006-07 season, learning the ropes of collegiate basketball. Despite playing just over 13 minutes per game as a redshirt freshman, he burst onto the scene with a team-leading 40 blocks, one shy of the school record. Benson garnered his lone double-double of the season versus UMKC (12/6/06) with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Against North Dakota State (1/31/07), he tallied 12 points, six rebounds, and four blocks. 

Benson took his production to a new level as a redshirt sophomore, posting top-25 national marks in field goal percentage (.622) and blocks per game (2.4). Additionally, he led the conference with 10 double-doubles while also ranking second in rebounds per game (7.8). His 87 blocks shattered OU's previous single-season school record of 41. Benson also broke a single-game school record with eight blocks at South Dakota State (1/31/09). 

While his first two seasons of play in the Black and Gold were considered breakout worthy, Benson's redshirt junior year was indeed one to remember. He averaged 17.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 3.3 blocks per game in 35 starts. Benson led the conference in several categories, including blocks (117), rebounds (368), and double-doubles (18). His marks in blocks and rebounds broke single-season program records. Benson poured in 10-plus points in 31 games, highlighted by a career-high 32 points on 11-of-17 shooting versus Purdue Fort Wayne (2/27/10). Against No. 1 ranked Kansas (11/25/09), he totaled 20 points, six rebounds, and four blocks. After the 2009-10 season, Benson earned Lou Henson Mid-Major Player of the Year, Summit League Player of the Year, and Associated Press All-America honors.

Benson's career year translated to team success, as the Golden Grizzlies went 26-9 overall and 17-1 in conference play. The season wins total marked the most in head coach Greg Kampe's 37-year career at the helm of the men's basketball program. OU defeated IUPUI in the Summit League Championship to earn its second-ever trip to the Division I NCAA Tournament. In Oakland's opening-round loss to No. 3 seed Pittsburgh (3/19/10), Benson totaled a game-high 28 points to go along with nine rebounds. 

During the 2010-11 season with the Golden Grizzlies, Benson once again elevated his play, which led to individual success, another trip to the NCAA Tournament, and the attention of NBA scouts. The redshirt senior averaged 17.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per game in 35 starts. Benson was named Summit League Player of the Year and an Associated Press All-American for the second-straight season. He also tabbed Summit League Defensive Player of the Year, conference tournament MVP, and CollegeInsider.com Defensive All-American honors. For the third time in his OU career, the single-season blocks record was beaten, this time with 125 blocks. When it came to national ranks, Benson was second in blocks per game and seventh in double-doubles (20). 

While the majority of his performances were eye-opening, several games especially stood out. In non-conference action versus Austin Peay (11/27/10), Benson came close to a quadruple-double with 22 points, a career-high 22 rebounds, a career-high seven assists, and six blocks. In Oakland's historic win over No. 7 ranked Tennessee (12/14/10), the big man finished with a game-high 26 points and 10 rebounds. Benson broke the all-time Summit League record in career blocked shots (320) at South Dakota State (1/20/11), as he finished with 28 points, 11 boards, and three swats. Lastly, Benson erupted for season highs in points (30) and blocks (7) against Centenary (1/29/11). 

Benson's monumental playing career with the Golden Grizzlies concluded after an 85-81 loss to No. 4 seed Texas (3/18/11) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. To no one's surprise, he collected a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds in the contest. Over his five-year career at OU, Benson totaled 1,903 points, 1,103 rebounds, 371 blocks, and 49 double-doubles. The last name "Benson" is plastered in OU's record book, from single-season school records to career marks that will likely remain atop of the list for years to come.

Benson projected as a second-round pick in the upcoming 2011 NBA Draft due to his successful collegiate career, shot-blocking ability, and size. On June 23, 2011, he became the first-ever Golden Grizzly selected in the NBA Draft, as the Atlanta Hawks picked him up with the 48th overall pick. While Benson never played professionally for the Hawks, he later competed as a member of the Golden State Warriors during the 2012 season while on a 10-day contract. 

He has since competed for several different professional teams, both overseas and in the G-League. Benson has earned First Team honors, defensive team honors, and two All-Star team nominations in the G-League alone. Overseas, he has played in Australia, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, and Turkey. Most recently, he signed with Levski Lukoil of the National Basketball League (NBL). 

In 2020, Oakland inducted Benson into its Hall of Honor, which recognizes the top student-athletes who have ever competed for the Golden Grizzlies.