KENT, Ohio- The Kent State University men's basketball program added three student-athletes to the 2019-2020 roster during the early signing period, announced by head coach Rob Senderoff on Wednesday. Signing national letters of intent to play for Kent State were Evan Bainbridge (Stow, Ohio), Jeremiah Hernandez (Arlington Heights, Ill.) and Kalin Bennett (Little Rock, Ark.).
"We are excited to sign three talented players," Senderoff said. "We think Evan, Jeremiah, and Kalin have the potential to be very good players and even better representatives of our program and university."
Bainbridge, a 6-9 power forward, plays at nearby Stow-Munroe Falls High School. As a junior, he averaged 15 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc and leading the Bulldogs to a Suburban League Championship. With a rare combination of size and shooting ability, he's athletic enough to throw down a dunk and skilled enough to hit 3-pointers consistently. Not only a star on the court, Bainbridge also excels in the classroom as he currently carries a GPA above 4.0.
"We've watched Evan play since he was in ninth grade and as he attended our basketball camps," Senderoff said. "He's an elite shooter and passer for his size and is well coached in high school. As he continues to get stronger, the sky is the limit for Evan. It's always great to keep local kids home when we believe they can help our program."
Hernandez, a 6-4 guard from Arlington Heights, Ill., plays for St. Viator High School. In his junior year, he averaged 15 points, four rebounds, and three assists per game. Hernandez's efforts helped St. Viator clinch the East Suburban Catholic Conference Championship. Ranked a top-15 player in the state, Hernandez is the next in a long line of Chicago guards who have starred for the Golden Flashes.
"Jeremiah comes from a very good high school program and AAU team, Young and Reckless, the same organization Antonio Williams played for," said Senderoff. "We've watched him for two years and we see a versatile guard with great vision and feel for the game. We're really looking forward to watching his growth and development here at Kent State."
Bennett is a 6-10 center who is ranked as the No. 16 prospect in the state of Arkansas during his senior year at Little Rock Christian Academy. Bennett will spend the winter playing for Link Year Prep in Branson, Mo. Bennett helped lead the Warriors to a 13-13 mark as a junior. His size will be an asset to Kent State along with his ability to be physical in the paint by blocking shots and rebounding. Bennett was diagnosed with autism at a young age, and Kent State's outstanding initiatives that assist students with autism will help him achieve success on and off the court.
"We knew we were going to recruit some size and watched Kalin play this summer and got to know him and his story," said Senderoff. "We are really excited to bring him to Kent State. He has autism and to my knowledge, he will be the first Division I player with autism to sign an NLI. We're very excited about the potential he has as a basketball player and he's only scratching the surface. Kalin is a big, strong, physical player that has a soft touch. We look forward to watching his development over the next few years."
The trio will join the Flashes for the 2019-2020 season. The Kent State men's basketball team looks to extend its win streak on Friday, Nov. 16 as the Flashes battle Liberty at the M.A.C. Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and will be on ESPN3.
