KUTZTOWN, PA (April 5, 2010) – Kutztown University senior guard Stephen Dennis (West Chester, PA/Henderson) is ready to compete this weekend in the 58th annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth (Va.) from April 7-10. All games will be played at Churchland High School. Fans can follow Dennis' progress and get all of the information on the tournament by CLICKING HERE
Dennis, the Daktronics National Player of the Year, is one of 64 collegiate senior basketball players from across the country chosen to play in this prestigious event, in which representatives from all 30 National Basketball Association (NBA) teams will be present.
“It's a nice accomplishment and I am excited to be selected to participate in this showcase,” Dennis said. “This is a good reward for all of the hard work that I've put into the game. It will be nice to get a chance to showcase my abilities against some of the other top players in the country.”
Dennis will be on the same team with Jordan Eglseder (Northern Iowa), Laurence Ekperigin (LeMoyne), Dior Lowhorn (San Francisco), Theo Robertson (California), Devan Downey (South Carolina), David Kool (Western Michigan), Edwin Ubiles (Siena).
Dennis recently was one of three players on the East squad to score a team-high 17 points in a 131-125 overtime defeat to West in the annual NABC Division II All-Star Game on March 26 in Springfield (Mass).
Dennis also averaged 5.8 rebounds per game, 4.5 assists per game and 2.1 steals per game. He also made an incredible 228 of 303 free-throws. Dennis broke his own school record for points scored in a season with 817 after scoring 710 points a year ago. He scored 30-or-more points nine times. He was previously named the Daktronics Atlantic Region Player of the Year on March 11.
Dennis broke Kutztown's career scoring record and his 2,406 points ranks third in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) history. He was named the PSAC East Player of the Year this season, and was a four-time All-PSAC East selection. He earned first team honors the last three years after earning second team honors as a freshman in addition to being named the PSAC East Rookie of the Year.
In addition to setting the all-time Kutztown school scoring record, Dennis established program marks in field goals (850), free throws (621) and assists (447). He also set the KU single season scoring record in two consecutive seasons. His total of 817 points surpassed the 710 he set last year.
Among the honors that Dennis has already received this year was being named Lehigh Valley Small College Player of the Year, Daktronics Atlantic Region Player of the Year, PSAC East Division Player of the Year and being named to the NABC Atlantic Region first team. Dennis, who won five PSAC East player of the week awards this season, ended his career by scoring in double figures in 46 consecutive contests and in 107 games. During his four-year career, Dennis helped Kutztown win 87 games and two PSAC East Division championships. The Golden Bears also made two consecutive trips to the NCAA Division II tournament.
