Bedford's German Signs With Owens MBB, Becomes First Member Of Next Year's Class

Ben German, second from left, signed with Owens recently. He is joined by Owens head coach Dennis Springs (far right), along with his parents Mark and Michelle. Photo provided to Owens Sports Information
Ben German, second from left, signed with Owens recently. He is joined by Owens head coach Dennis Springs (far right), along with his parents Mark and Michelle. Photo provided to Owens Sports Information
Posted: May 08, 2017

By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, Ohio---The Owens Community College men's basketball program has added its first member to next year's recruiting class with the signing of Ben German, a 6-5 forward from Bedford High School in Temperance, Mich.

German will become the first student-athlete from Bedford High School to play men's basketball at Owens since Dave Klem in 1991-92. Klem, who helped Owens win its first national title, is the only other known player from Bedford in program history. In fact, the only other player from that area to play at Owens was Nick Owens, a guard from State Line Christian High School in 2007-09. Owens was a Lambertville, Mich. native.

German averaged 12 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.8 blocks per contest as a senior at Bedford while shooting 55 percent from the field en route to Honorable Mention All-Southeastern Conference Red Division and Monroe County All-Region recognition.

"Ben is a high-energy player who will help us improve our rebounding and interior defense," said Owens men's basketball head coach Dennis Springs. "In high school, he proved to be a good second level defender with his shot blocking ability. His athleticism, competitiveness and toughness makes him a perfect fit for our program."

Ben is the son of Mark and Michelle German. His father played basketball at the University of Toledo from 1984-88. 

Notes

Springs is entering his first full season as the head coach of the Owens men's basketball program in 2017-18. Last year, he took over for Dave Clarke on Dec. 16 and led the team to a 16-5 record over the final 21 games. He had previously been an assistant with the program since the 2013-14 season.

The Owens men's basketball program, which finished 23-9 last year and advanced to the Region XII District 11 semifinals last year, has won at least 20 games in five of the past six seasons and 29 times overall in program history. The program has captured 12 conference championships, eight Region XII championships and two national championships.

Over the past six seasons, the Owens men's basketball program has compiled a 141-53 (.729) record with two conference championships and one National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Final Four appearance.