Hilbert, a 6-foot-5 post from Plain City, Ohio, averaged 14.8 points and 9.0 rebounds as a senior at Jonathan Alder High School. He also contributed 1.5 blocked shots per game and shot 60 percent from the field and 77 percent from the free throw line. He was a two-time All-Madison County First Team selection and was named to the Central District Second Team. The four-year letterman was also selected as Jonathan Alder’s Most Valuable Offensive Player in each of his final two seasons.

“I have known Scott for a long time and I have seen him grow into a great young man and a very good basketball player,” said MVNU head coach Scott Flemming, who has posted a 374-217 record in 18 years at his alma mater and who coached Hilbert’s older brother, Matt, with the Cougars from 2000-2004. “He is a true post player, and he is very effective with his back to the basket.”

“Scott has a tremendous work ethic and I believe he will be a leader on our team as well as on our campus,” Flemming added. “His work ethic has been demonstrated in the classroom as well. I think Scott will thrive in our environment at MVNU.”

In addition to playing basketball at Jonathan Alder, Hilbert is a member of National Honor Society and has served as its president. He has also been the president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter for four years, and he was selected as Jonathan Alder’s homecoming king and Mr. J.A. winner.

“I feel like I have grown up with MVNU,” said Hilbert of his college choice. “The first time I came to MVNU to watch my brother play, I knew this was the place I wanted to go. This will be a great experience not only with basketball, but spiritually as well. I cannot imagine going anywhere else.”

MVNU finished the 2007-2008 season with a 23-8 overall record to reach the 20-win mark for the 11th time in the past 12 seasons. The Cougars, who were ranked No. 22 in the final NAIA Division II poll of the year, earned a spot in the NAIA Division II National Tournament for the third straight year and the seventh time in program history, and MVNU fell to eventual national champion Oregon Institute of Technology 77-74. The team also posted a school-record 14-1 mark in the Physical Education Center to improve to 26-2 in the past two seasons at home.