Dispatch-Argus POY inks with the Bees

St. Ambrose University is excited to announce the signing of one of the top high school athletes from the Quad City area.

Ben Gillen, a senior at Monmouth-Roseville High School (Illinois) has signed a letter of intent and will play both basketball and golf at St. Ambrose in the fall 2008.  He is the son of George & Laura Gillen of Monmouth, Illinois.

In basketball, Gillen was named to the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association 3^rd Team All State Squad his senior year.  He was also voted to the Associated Press Honorable Mention Class A All State Team.

In golf, Gillen’s Monmouth Roseville team qualified for the Illinois High School Golf Class A State Championship finishing in 5^th place his senior year.  Gillen finished 3^rd individually and was named IHSAA Class A 1^st team All State.

Gillen was named to the All Olympic Conference 1^st Team in both basketball and golf his junior and senior seasons.  He was recognized as The Dispatch & Argus Quad City Area Player of the Year in Boy’s Golf for 2007/08.

“We are very pleased to have a high profile two sport athlete the caliber of Ben Gillen joining our basketball & golf programs next season, “said St. Ambrose Athletic Director Ray Shovlain.  “He has competed in a very successful high school program at Monmouth-Roseville and will be an impact player in both sports for St. Ambrose next season.”