Men's Basketball Signs Two to National Letters of Intent

5/16/05 -- Long Island University third-year men’s basketball coach Jim Ferry announced today the signings of Naim Benjamin and Donovin McLendon to National Letters of Intent to join the program for the 2005-06 season.

Benjamin, a 6-2 guard, played the past two seasons for Des Moines (Iowa) Area Community College. He was the leading scorer in the Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) last season, averaging 17.2 points per game. He also averaged 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 1.6 steals- fifth-best in the league.

During Benjamin’s two seasons, the Bears posted a 54-12 ledger. An ICCAC Division II All-Region selection, Benjamin shot 43 percent from the field and connected on 43 3-pointers last season.

Benjamin is no stranger to the Metro New York area having honed his skills at John F. Kennedy High School in Paterson, N.J. where he was an All-Passiac County selection. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

McLendon attended Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass this past season, the alma mater of current Blackbird guard Randy Jones. The 6-5 swing player hails from Miami, where he attended Monsignor Pace.

McLendon helped guide the Spartans to the state title his junior season and a berth in the final four his senior campaign. He was a first team All-Dade selection and a second team All-State honoree in 2003-04, averaging 14 points, six rebounds and 2.5 steals per game.

The duo join Lamar Pittman, an early signee from Poughkeepsie (NY), for admission in the fall.

With one of the country’s youngest lineups, the Blackbirds finished fourth in the Northeast Conference last season. They advanced to the NEC Tournament semifinals before falling to NCAA Tournament participant Fairleigh Dickinson. LIU returns its starting lineup and 11 letterwinners in 2005-06.