By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, Ohio---Austin Somerfield (Greenville/Greenville, Mich.), a sophomore forward for the Owens Community College men's basketball team, has signed with NCAA Division II University of West Florida.

Somerfield, who helped Owens average 96.3 points per game last year, posted averages of 7.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. He was one of the team's most improved players the second half of the season. After posting only three double figure scoring games the first half, he totaled seven such games in the second half. 

In Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) play, Somerfield averaged 9.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. 

Overall, Somerfield shot 50.3 percent from the field, and he scored a season-high 17 points against Edison Community College on Feb. 14. In postseason play, he averaged 10 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Somerfield is the sixth member of the 2014-15 Owens men's basketball team to sign with a four-year school. He joins John Murry (North Central/Indianapolis, Ind.) and Kenny Jones (Clay/South Bend, Ind.), who both signed with NCAA Division I Austin Peay State University, Pete Firlik (Catholic Central/Grand Rapids, Mich.), who signed with NCAA Division II Ferris State University, CJ Bussey (Central Catholic/Toledo, Ohio), who signed with NAIA Mount Vernon Nazarene University and Edmond Early Jr. (Thurgood Marshall/Dayton, Ohio), who signed with NAIA Indiana Tech University.

West Florida is located in Pensacola, Fla. The Argonauts compete in the Gulf Coast Conference and are led by head coach Jeff Burkhamer.

Notes

The Owens men's basketball program has now sent 18 players to four-year schools over the past four years including: Kenny Jones (2013-15, NCAA D-I Austin Peay State University), John Murry (2013-15, NCAA D-I Austin Peay State University), Pete Firlik (2014-15, NCAA D-II Ferris State University), Justin Edmonds (2011-13, Marshall University), James Kelly (2011-13, University of Miami, Fla./Marshall University), Bikramjit Gill (2013-14, Ball State University), Joe Retic II (2012-13, Liberty University), Tony Boykins (2012-14, NCAA D-II Gannon University), Andy Bachman (2012-14, NCAA D-II Tiffin University), Markese Allen (2012-14, NCAA D-II Ohio Valley University), Jay Marquette (2011-13, NCAA D-II Lee University), Austin Somerfield (2014-15, NCAA Division II University of West Florida), Jerron Jamerson (2011-12, NAIA Goshen College), DeVondre Peoples (2013-14, NAIA Berea College), Jordan Basinger (2011-12, NAIA Siena Heights University), CJ Bussey (2014-15, NAIA Mount Vernon Nazarene University), Edmond Early Jr. (2013-15, NAIA Indiana Tech University), Franklin Lindsey (2011-13, NAIA Indiana Tech University).

Owens finished 25-7 overall this past year and won the program's second consecutive OCCAC championship. Following the regular season, the team advanced to the Region XII District 11 championship game for the fourth straight season. Under the direction of head coach Dave Clarke, the program has compiled a 100-31 record over those four seasons.