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Issued: April 30, 2008

2008-09 MEN'S BASKETBALL RECRUITS ANNOUNCED

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. - Head men's basketball coach Terry Gibbons has announced the names of ten high school student-athletes who will continue their academic and athletic careers at UW-Eau Claire.

“This is one of the best recruiting classes we have been a part of at UW-Eau Claire," Gibbons said. "This recruiting class will help us compete at a championship level that we expect out of our returning players and new recruits.”

“I thought our staff did an excellent job in attracting quality student-athletes that will help get us to the next level.”

Last season the Blugolds advanced to the semifinals of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament defeating second-seeded UW-Platteville 84-80.

2008-09 Blugold Recruits

Nate Abraham

Nate Abraham, a forward from Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Class 2A state quarterfinalists La Crescent High School, will attend UW-Eau Claire and play basketball next fall, Blugold head coach Terry Gibbons has announced.

The 6-6, 210-pound Abraham played for head coach Craig Kowal and was a four-time letterwinner and three-year starter for the Lancers. The Lancers won the Hiawatha Valley League and advanced to the MSHSL State Basketball Tournament for the first time in school history, finishing the season with a 28-2 record. Abraham was the team Defensive MVP and is a two-time honorable mention All-Conference and All-Area selection. Abraham holds the school record for most varsity basketball games played at La Crescent.

A three-sport athlete, Abraham was a five-time letterwinner in track and one-time letterwinner in football.

Abraham is the son of Mark and Joan Abraham.

Brett Anderson

Brett Anderson, a forward from New Richmond High School, will attend UW-Eau Claire and play basketball next fall, Blugold head coach Terry Gibbons has announced.

The 6-6, 185-pound Anderson played for head coach Rick Montreal and was a four-time letterwinner and three-year starter for the Tigers. Last season Anderson helped lead the Tigers to an overall record of 20-3 including a perfect 14-0 mark in conference play. A team captain, Anderson led the Tigers in scoring and rebounding as he was named team MVP. Anderson was named the Middle Border Conference Player of the Year as he earned first team All-Conference honors. During his junior season Anderson was the team’s leader in scoring and rebounding and received first team All-Conference accolades. As a sophomore Anderson was the Tigers’ leading rebounder as he earned team Most Improved and honorable mention All-Conference honors. Ranked as the 45th best player in the Wisconsin high school class of 2008 by Wishoops.net, Anderson will play for the Division 2 North All-Stars at the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-Star Game on June 21 at the University of Wisconsin Fieldhouse.

A three-sport athlete, Anderson earned four letters in track and three letters in football. As a junior Anderson was the Division 1 regional champion in the triple jump. A three-year starter in football, Anderson was named a team captain as a junior and senior.

Anderson is the son of Brian and Mary Anderson.

Nick Bartlett

Nick Bartlett, a guard from Mounds View High School, will attend UW-Eau Claire and play basketball next fall, Blugold head coach Terry Gibbons has announced.

The 6-3, 180-pound Bartlett played for head coach Zigurds Kauls and was a three-time letterwinner and two-year starter for the Mustangs. A team captain, Bartlett was a two-time All-Suburban East Conference selection for the Mustangs averaging 15 points, four assists and four rebounds per game as a senior, shooting 50 percent from the floor and 45 percent from the three-point line. Bartlett is also a one-time letterwinner in track where he runs sprints.

Bartlett is the son of David and Wendy Bartlett.

Nick Benaglio

Nick Benaglio, a forward/center from Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Class C semifinalist Negaunee High School, will attend UW-Eau Claire and play basketball next fall, Blugold head coach Terry Gibbons has announced.

The 6-6, 200-pound Benaglio played for head coach Mike O’Donnell and was a three-year starter for the Miners. Benaglio was a starter for the Miner teams that advanced to the state quarterfinals as a sophomore, regional final as a junior and the state semifinals finishing with an overall record of 25-1 as a senior. The top-ranked team in Class C at the end of the regular season, the Miners were named the Upper Peninsula Class A-B-C Team of the Year.

Individually, Benaglio averaged 13 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 2 assists per game as a senior shooting 64 percent from the floor and 82 percent from the free throw line. Benaglio earned second team All Upper Peninsula Class A-B-C and Mid-Peninsula Conference honors in addition to earning Detroit Free Press third team and BankHoops.Com fourth team All-State honors. Benaglio received first team All Upper Peninsula Class A-B-C and Mid Peninsula Conference honors during his senior season.

Academically Benaglio was named first team Academic All-State by the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan.

A three-sport athlete, Benaglio was a two-time letterwinner in cross country and one-time letterwinner in track.

Benaglio is the son of Anthony and Cynthia Benaglio.

Matt Biehn

Matt Biehn, a guard from Dover-Eyota High School, will attend UW-Eau Claire and play basketball next fall, Blugold head coach Terry Gibbons has announced.

The 6-1, 175-pound Biehn played for head coach Chris Matejka and was a three-time letterwinner and starter for the Eagles. Biehn earned first team All-Three Rivers Conference honors in each of the past three seasons. Biehn averaged 17 points and six rebounds per game last season and scored more than 1,000 points for his career. As a sophomore Biehn was a starter for the Eagle basketball team that finished in third place in Class 2A at the 2006 Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) Boys’ State Basketball Tournament.

A two-year letterwinner and starter for the Eagle football team, Biehn was also named a team captain this past season.

Biehn is the son of Ken Biehn.

Luke Duckett

Luke Duckett, a guard from Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Division I Semifinalist Brookfield Central High School, will attend UW-Eau Claire and play basketball next fall, Blugold head coach Terry Gibbons has announced.

The 6-3, 180-pound Duckett played for head coach Mark Adams and was a two-time letterwinner and one-year starter for the Lancers. Duckett led the Lancers with six rebounds per game and 83-percent shooting from the free throw line while ranking second in scoring with 14 points per game and assists with 1.4 per game. Team honors Duckett received include Hardest Practice Player, Most Improved, Best Teammate and Team Captain. Duckett earned second team All-Greater Metro Conference and All-County accolades while receiving honorable mention All-Suburban honors.

Duckett is the son of Mike and Jill Duckett.

Logan Jensen

Logan Jensen, a guard from St. Charles High School, will attend UW-Eau Claire and play basketball next fall, Blugold head coach Terry Gibbons has announced.

The 6-2, 190-pound Jensen played for head coach Terry Knothe and was a four-time letterwinner and three-year starter for the Saints. Jensen is a two-time first team All-Three Rivers Conference selection who led the Saints in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals last season. Jensen scored 30 or more points in three games last season after averaging 17 points per game as a junior.

Jensen was a three-year letterwinner and starter for the Saints football team earning All-Conference honors during his junior and senior campaigns. Jensen holds the Minnesota state high school record for carries in a single game when he totaled 48 carries for 361 yards as a junior earning team Offensive MVP honors as a junior.

Jensen is the son of Scott and Jennifer Jensen.

Lucas Morrissey

Lucas Morrissey, a guard from Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Division 3 champion La Crosse Aquinas High School, will attend UW-Eau Claire and play basketball next fall, Blugold head coach Terry Gibbons has announced.

The 6-3, 195-pound Morrissey played for head coach Rich Schneider and was a three-year starter for the Blugolds. With Morrissey as a starter the Blugolds went 70-7 including a state championship as a senior and a state runner-up finish as a junior. This past season Morrissey averaged 12.3 points and 5.3 rebounds per game as he led the Blugolds in assists, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, rebounds and steals. A team captain, Morrissey earned first team All-City, All-Coulee Conference and All-Area honors in addition to receiving All-State Tournament, fourth team Associated Press All-State and honorable mention Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-Division 3 accolades. Morrissey is currently ranked as the 33rd best player in the Wisconsin high school class of 2008 by Wishoops.net.

A three-sport athlete, Morrissey is a four-time letterwinner in track and a two-year letterwinner in football. In track Morrissey was a state qualifier in the 200-meter dash and a member of the state qualifying 4 x 400-meter relay team. In football Morrissey was a wide receiver for the WIAA Division 5 state championship team.

Morrissey is the son of John and Deborah Morrissey.

Josh Prince

Josh Prince, a guard from Chippewa Falls High School, will attend UW-Eau Claire and play basketball next fall, Blugold head coach Terry Gibbons has announced.

The 6-2, 195-pound Prince played for head coach Luke Madsen and was a three-year starter for the Cardinals. Prince was named the Chippewa County Player of the Year after earning first team All-Big Rivers, first team All-Northwest and honorable mention Associated Press All-State honors this past season. Prince received first team All-Conference honors as a junior and honorable mention recognition as a sophomore.

A three-sport athlete, Prince is a four-time letterwinner in both soccer and track. A two-time captain in soccer, Prince received first team All-Conference honors and led the Cardinals in scoring each of the last two years. Prince is a conference champion in the 400-meter dash and qualified for the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) state track meet in the 400 and 800-meter runs.

Prince is the son of Don and Sharon Prince.

Dan Stovall

Dan Stovall, a forward from New Richmond High School, will attend UW-Eau Claire and play basketball next fall, Blugold head coach Terry Gibbons has announced.

The 6-8, 195-pound Stovall played for head coach Rick Montreal and was a two-year starter for the Tigers. A team captain, Stovall averaged 12 points, six rebounds and three blocked shots per game as a senior earning first team All-Middle Border Conference honors and receiving special mention All-Northwest Team recognition. As a junior Stovall averaged six points, four rebounds and two blocks per game to earn the team’s Most Improved award. Ranked among the top 100 players in the Wisconsin high school class of 2008 by Wishoops.net, Stovall will play for the Division 2 North All-Stars at the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) All-Star Game on June 21 at the University of Wisconsin Fieldhouse.

A three-sport athlete, Stovall is a three-time letterwinner in soccer and two-time letterwinner in track. In soccer Stovall received team Most Improved and first team All-Conference honors his senior season.

Stovall is the son of Don and Naomi Stovall.

- KM -

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