Danford announces he's headed to Benedictine to play basketball

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - West Lafayette guard Drake Danford announced Tuesday night that he will play college basketball at Benedectine University next year.

During his two years in a West Lafayette uniform Danford shot at least 44% from the field while scoring 739 points, and 135 assists. 

"I think it's exciting because not many athletes get the opportunity to pursue their careers at the next level. I have a lot of family and friends support out here and it will be exciting to move on to the next challenge in my life," said Danford.

"I am really excited for Drake because he has worked really hard. He is a good young man and he has earned his chance to play at the next level and not a lot of people do that," said West Lafayette head coach Dave Wood.

Danford will be coached at Benedictine University by head coach Keith Bunkenburg who took over the men’s basketball program in 1995. He has averaged 16 wins per season as Benedictine’s head coach and has guided the Eagles to either regular-season or conference tournament titles six times.

The NIIC “Coach of the Year” for both the 1999-00 and 2000-01 campaigns, Bunkenburg was named Illinois’ NCAA Division III “Coach of the Year” in both 2000 and 2004. His career win percentage ranks him among the winningest active NCAA Division III coaches.

Coach Bunkenburg is thrilled to have Danford coming to campus next fall and is excited at the player he thinks Danford will become.

"Building a relationship with him and seeing him play and seeing him everyday in practice, obviously he will be a special player for us," said head coach Keith Bunkenburg.