Hope College guard Ben Gardner has claimed All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association First Team honors in men's basketball for the 2016 season.
The senior from Carmel, Indiana (Carmel HS) is one of seven players named first team by the league's coaches. He also was named co-MIAA Defensive Player of the Year with Albion's Travell Oakes.
Hope coach Greg Mitchell said the award is extremely deserved for the effort Gardner put into to helping the Flying Dutchmen earn an outright MIAA Championships and their 38th league title overall.
"That's a guy who has bought into the game at both ends of the floor," Mitchell said. "As much as he is an all-league player on offense, he's an all-league player on defense. He's a big reason we are where we are is because he shows up every night and defends and works it offensively."
In 14 MIAA games, Gardner averaged 15.3 points, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He shot 43.9 percent from the field (69-of-157) and 81.9 percent from the foul line (59-72).
Click here for Hope's All-MIAA First Team honorees.
Senior center Brock Benson of Willowbrook, Illinois (Hinsdale South HS) earned All-MIAA Second Team honors.
Benson averaged 12.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per league game.
"He is such a versatile post player," Mitchell said. "He's done a great job of adding to his scoring prowess, being a better passer and better facilitator. Most important, he has been a better leader, which has been critical for us. Anyone knows we're a better basketball team when he's on the floor for us."
