North Iowa Area Community College signed four more student athletes for the 2009-2010 men’s basketball season:  Kolton Benson, DeAaron Hearn, Dion Suggs and Lamar Anderson.

“We are very fortunate to be able to get a class of players that played in successful programs.  Coach Ainley and Coach Creighton did a great job in recruiting these players,” Mark Mohl, NIACC men’s basketball head coach, said.

Benson, 6’1”, played for West Hancock High School in Britt.  He averaged 17.2 points and 5.3 assists per game with a 39% 3-point field goal average and a 47% field goal average.  Benson was first team All-Conference and the second leading scorer in his high school’s history with 994 career points.

“Kolton is a very versatile guard with good height.  He can play the one or two and shoots it very well.  He has a huge upside and had a great year at West Hancock,” Mohl said.

Hearn, 6’1”, played for Minneapolis Washburn High School in Minneapolis, Minn.  His team finished as the State Champions in class 3A with a 27-5 record last year.  Hearn averages 9 points, 6.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game.  He has a 50% field goal average, was All-Conference and played in the 2009 Inner City All-Star Classic.

“DeAaron played on a great team this year and did a great job of running their team.  He can really pressure the basketball defensively and is a lockdown defender,” Mohl said.

Suggs, 5’10”, played at St. Paul Johnson High School in St. Paul, Minn.  He averaged 14.4 points per game with a 43% field goal average and a 70% free throw average.  Suggs was his high school’s all-time career leading scorer with 1,357 points.  His team earned a 109-23 record in his four years and finished third in the state in Class 3A his senior year.  Suggs was voted conference MVP and selected to the Minnesota Basketball Coaches Association All-Star Team as well as the Top 20 Players in Minnesota by Minnesota Basketball News.

“Dion will be a great addition to our team.  St. Paul Johnson plays a style very similar to ours.  He can really get after it defensively and creates problems for offenses.  Dion is also someone who likes to take the big shots and loves pressure situations,” Mohl said.

Anderson, 6’3”, also played at St. Paul Johnson High School in St. Paul, Minn.  He averaged 9.3 points and 4.2 rebounds per game with a 52% field goal average and a 69% free throw average.  Anderson was an honorable mention All-Conference player.

“Lamar is someone who has a huge upside.  He is an excellent athlete who gets up and down the floor well.  He has a very bright future,” Mohl said.

For more information on NIACC men’s basketball, visit www.niacc.edu/athletics/mbasketball.

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