SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Former Oakland men's basketball standout Keith Benson (2007-11) was named to the Summit League's 2024 Hall of Fame Class, the league announced today.
 
Benson joins legendary former Oakland swimming and diving head coach Pete Hovland (1999-2013) who was inducted in 2020, along with former Oakland women's soccer standout Anita Rapp (1998-2001) who was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 2017. Benson also becomes just the sixth former Summit League men's basketball coach or player to be inducted.
 
"I'm honored to be a part of the newest class of Summit League Hall of Fame inductees," Benson said. "My days as a student-athlete at Oakland provided me with life-long memories and great teammates that I am still close with to this day. I will always cherish those memories and they are always fun to reflect on. I'm grateful for my coaches and teammates that were by my side through it all and the lasting relationships we developed. We accomplished a lot together on the court and that's something I'm still extremely proud of. I think a team that won and was successful will always be remembered and I'm happy about that."

Drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2011 NBA Draft, the Farmington Hills, Mich., native has added yet another accolade to his name with his induction. At Oakland, Benson had a career to remember and sits atop many categories of the Golden Grizzlies record book to this day. The 6-foot-11 center holds single game records for both defensive rebounds (17) and blocked shots (8), and in the top-10 for a single season in nine separate categories, with many more than once, and holds the record for defensive rebounds (261), total rebounds (367), blocked shots (127), blocks per game (3.60) and double-doubles (20). Furthermore, Benson has inked himself in 14 separate categories in the Oakland record book, career-wise, and holds the program record in defensive rebounds (772), blocked shots (371), blocks per game (2.75) and double-doubles (49).
 
"Keith Benson was one of the most dominant players to ever play in the Summit League," said Oakland men's basketball head coach Greg Kampe. "He was a two-time Player of the Year and was part of a 50-3 run by us in Summit League games over a three-year period. As his coach, he was a joy to be around. He's just a really good person and teammate. We congratulate Keith on a prestigious and well-deserved honor."
 
Benson amassed 1,903 points during his four years at Oakland, good for 14.` points per game, and nearly averaged a career double-double with his 8.2 rebounds per game (1,103 total). Benson averaged a double-double during his final two seasons with the Golden Grizzlies, and was recognized nationally for his contributions. Following the 2009-10 season, Benson was awarded the Lou Henson Award, which is awarded to the country's best mid-major player, was a 2010 Mid-Major All-American and was an AP-All American Honorable Mention. Benson then followed it up with a remarkable senior campaign where he earned 2011 College Inside All-American honors and was an AP All-American Honorable Mention once again.
 
He was a three-time All-Summit League performer, a three-time Summit League All-Tournament Team honoree and earned back-to-back Summit League Player of the Year honors in 2010 and 2011 after leading Oakland to regular season and tournament titles in each of those seasons. For his career, Benson is one of just four Summit League players with more than 1,500 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. A second-round selection in the 2011 NBA Draft selection by the Atlanta Hawks, Benson made his NBA debut a season later with the Golden State Warriors. Benson just retired from a professional basketball career that spanned more than a decade and included stops in a variety of countries. He was also a two-time NBA D-League All-Star and helped the Sioux Falls Skyforce win the 2016 NBA D-League Championship.
 
Benson was enshrined into the Hollie L. Lepley Hall of Honor in 2020 and is one of four men's basketball Golden Grizzlies to have his No. 34 jersey retired. During his tenure, the Golden Grizzlies won 91 games and made consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, as Benson finished second in the NCAA his senior season with his 3.8 blocks per game.