Nov. 10, 2006
Santa Clara, Calif. - The Santa Clara University men's basketball program announced today the signing of Ben Dowdell to a national letter of intent in the early signing period. Dowdell, who currently plays for the Australian Institute of Sport, is a member of the Australian national team program and will enter Santa Clara as a freshman in the fall of 2007. His signing rounds out the recruiting class for 2007.
"Ben is very developed already for a high-school aged player," said Davey. "He has played internationally and has gotten great experience at the Australian Institute of Sport. He is an excellent athlete who can get to the basket, so we are excited to bring him into the program."
Dowdell, from North Nowra, New South Wales in Australia, has spent his prep career playing at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. A 6-7, 215 pound small forward, Dowdell helped the Australian junior national team (U-19) win the Oceania region this past year and clinch a spot in the 2007 World Championships in Vancouver. At the Australian Institute of Sport, he plays under head coach Marty Clarke in the South East Conference of the Australian Basketball Association (SEABL). Dowdell's older brother Jeff plays for Perth in the NBL (Australian pro basketball league). At the 2005 U-18 Australian Championships, he averaged 16.7 points and 10.0 rebounds a game, while shooting 58 percent from the field. He also led the New South Wales U-20 team to the Australian Championship in 2006.
Dowdell is the final signing for the Broncos for the early signing period. On Wednesday, the Broncos announced the signings of Zac Tiedeman, Scott Thompson and Andrew Zimmermann.
Santa Clara National Letter of Intent Signees At A Glance
Ben Dowdell - SF
Height: 6-7 Weight: 215
Hometown: North Nowra, New South Wales, Australia
Zac Tiedeman - PG
Height: 6-1
Weight: 170
Hometown: Santa Rosa, Calif.
Scott Thompson - PF
Height: 6-11
Weight: 215
Hometown: Meridian, Idaho
Andrew Zimmermann - PF
Height: 6-9
Weight: 210
Hometown: Oostbug, Wis.
