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Men’s basketball signs Dontel Highsmith

November 14, 2012
Mark Montgomery

Mark Montgomery

Northern Illinois men’s basketball head coach Mark Montgomery announced today the signing of Dontel Highsmith to a National Letter of Intent to join the Huskie men’s basketball program next season.

A 6-foot-2 combo guard, Highsmith averaged 27.8 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals per game last season as a junior at Dowagiac High School. As a sophomore in 2010-11, Highsmith led Dowagiac to the Michigan Class B State Semifinals for the first time since 1983.

“We are extremely happy to have Dontel joining our program,” Montgomery said. “He is an athletic, combo guard, an explosive scorer with a strong body. Dontel is a great kid with high character, he is a big-time athlete that can breakdown defenses, create shots for others and is a very good on-ball defender.”

Last season, Highsmith scored 56 points in a game against Plainwell High School and also had 42 points against Allegan High School.

A three-sport standout in basketball, football and track, Highsmith was named the South Bend Tribune’s Boys Athlete of the Year in 2011-12. On the football field, Highsmith caught 18 passes for 432 yards and six touchdowns. He also returned kickoffs, averaging 40.9 yards per return with two touchdowns. Highsmith finished third in the state in the long jump and qualified for the state meet in the 100-meter dash last spring.

The 2012-13 Huskies will host Judson University this Sunday, Nov. 18, in their regular season home opener at the Convocation Center. Game time against the Eagles is set for 3 p.m.

For more information on NIU men’s basketball and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.