UPDATE: Keith Benson Chosen in Second Round of NBA Draft

Keith Benson, a 2006 graduate of Detroit County Day School in Beverly Hills, was drafted to play in the National Basketball Association Thursday night.

Benson, of Farmington Hills, was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 18th pick in the second round (48th overall). He is the first player in the 13-year history of Oakland University as a Division 1 athletics department to be selected in the draft. Benson, at 6' 11", won the Summit League Player of the Year Award in 2010 and 2011 as part of the winningest senior class in OU history with 91 wins.

Benson reportedly watched the draft from home with his family.

The Hawks fell in the semifinals of the NBA Playoffs last season after finishing the regular season with a 44-38 record.

Michigan State University and Orchard Lake St. Mary's Preparatory graduate Kalin Lucas is also eligible for the draft.

Lucas finished his senior season at Michigan State University with a loss in the first round of the NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball tournament in March, while Benson’s Oakland University Golden Grizzlies also fell in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Eaglets head coach George Porritt said last week that he felt Lucas could make an NBA team better on account of his skill, leadership and speed.

“Obviously, he’s smaller than the size of your typical NBA guard,” Porritt said of 6'1" Lucas last week. “But he’s fast and he’s smart. He’s always been a leader on the floor and I think he showed that at MSU. He could certainly make it in the league.”