GUILFORD’S BONNER, STRONG INK PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL CONTRACTS
GREENSBORO, N.C. –* Former Guilford College basketball standouts *Rhett Bonner ’10* and *Ben Strong ’08* recently signed professional basketball contracts.
*Bonner*signed with the Washington Generals, the rival of the
world-famous Harlem Globetrotters, while *Strong *signed with the Landstede Basketball Club(LBC), a first-division team in the Netherlands.
*Bonner* becomes the third Guilford alumnus to sign with the Generals,
following in the footsteps of former teammates *Eric Belkoski ’08* and
current Guilford assistant basketball coach *Caleb Kimbrough ’08*. The
Generals travel the world serving as the comedic foil to the Globetrotters,
who were founded in 1926 and have played over 23,000 exhibition games in 120
countries for more than 132 million fans. With this opportunity, the 6-1,
175-pound shooting guard looks to help the Generals improve upon their
6-13,653 record against the Globetrotters, having lost over 10,000 straight
contests since a 100-99 victory January 5, 1971.
*Bonner*, a two-time Second Team All-ODAC honoree, averaged 12.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per contest in his three-year career as a Quaker. His .853 free-throw percentage ranks second in the school record books. *
Bonner’s* .402 three-point percentage stands third in school history, along
with his 168 three-pointers made and 418 attempted. He finished his career
ranked 25th in scoring with 1,126 points and played on three NCAA Tournament
teams.
*
Strong*, a* *6-10, 220-pound center, will play with one of the top clubs in the Dutch Basketball League (DBL). Following a disappointing 2009-10 season when the team posted a 5-31 record, the addition of *Strong* will strengthen
Landstede’s frontcourt as he is two inches taller than the club’s tallest
forward. This opportunity follows *Strong’s* two-year stint with the Maccabi
Haifa Heat of the Israel Basketball Super League (Ligat HaAL). With the
Heat, *Strong* averaged 8.7 minutes, 2.1 points and 2.1 rebounds over 32 games.
*Strong *concluded a brilliant college career with Guilford in 2008,
averaging 25.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game. In
2006-07, *Strong*was named the NCAA Division III Player of the Year by the National
Association of Basketball Coaches and D3hoops.com. Guilford’s second
all-time leading scorer (2,241 points), he led the Quakers to a 48-10
record, the 2008 ODAC title and two NCAA playoff appearances in his final
two campaigns.
*Bonner *and *Strong *join former Guilford standout *Tyler Sanborn ’10* as
Quakers in the professional ranks. *Sanborn *recently signed with the LEB
Gold League’s Grupo Iruna Navarra out of Pamplona, Spain.
-30-
Dave Walters
Guilford College Athletics