Benton rounds out signing class for Southeast Missouri State men's basketball

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team wrapped up its signings for the season as it announced the addition of guard Jaylen Benton on Friday.

The Redhawks have now filled all of their scholarships for the upcoming season.

Benton (6-foot-3, 180 pounds) hails from Columbus, Ohio, and last played in 2014-15 at Monroe College, a junior college in New York City, where he averaged 8.5 points per game and 2.5 assists while shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from outside the arc. He appeared in 26 game, including seven starts.

Rick Ray and his staff became aware of Benton at a junior college event in July, Ray said in a press release.

"I received several phone calls and text messages from colleagues of mine raving about his performance at the event," Ray said.

Benton was a first-team all-conference selection at Westerville (Ohio) North High School, averaging 15 points, five assists, five rebounds and three steals as a senior.

He then spent the 2013-14 season at Central Arizona College, averaging 8.6 ppg and shooting over 40 percent from the field in 25 appearances (11 starts).

"Jaylen possess the ability to make plays at different positions on the court," Monroe College head coach Jeff Brustad said in a press release. "He makes people better around him and has really good instincts. Jaylen has a great work ethic, handles his business and will continue to get better."

Benton is part of Southeast's nine-man recruiting class, of which six are college or junior college transfers. Seven of the nine are guards.

Benton will be eligible to play this winter as a junior.