Severns, a 6-foot-1 senior shooting guard from Mount Vernon, Ohio, is no stranger to MVNU as he has been around the university his whole life and was born on campus when his father, Mel, who is now the university’s registrar, was serving as a resident director. As a junior at Mount Vernon High School, Severns averaged 16.5 points and 2.1 rebounds while nailing 3.6 treys per game. He shot 44.1 percent from beyond the arc and 82.4 percent at the free throw line. For his efforts, Severns was named to the Ohio Capital Conference Second Team, the Central District Honorable Mention Team, and the District 11 First Team.

"Ben is an outstanding young man,” said MVNU head coach Scott Flemming, who has posted a 384-221 record in 19 years at his alma mater. "I’ve known him all his life and I know his parents well. He was a ball boy for us years ago and I’ve watched him develop as a player. Many times, that’s the best way to recruit. You get to know someone as a person and then see how they develop as a player. Ben kept improving and improving and now he is an outstanding basketball player. It was really a no-brainer for us to recruit him.”

"Ben is one of the best shooters in the area,” said Flemming. "He has really improved in other areas of his game as well. He is also a strong young man of faith and a very good student. All of those things are pluses.”

In addition to playing basketball and baseball at Mount Vernon, Severns spent the summer of 2008 traveling with College Bound Elite - an AAU team that won two Columbus tournaments, finished in the final four in Fort Wayne, Ind., and was in the elite eight in Louisville, Ky. He has also been involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the North Central Ohio Nazarene District Impact Team, and National Honor Society.

"There are several reasons why I chose MVNU,” said Severns of his college choice. "MVNU is a great Christian university that blends faith with education very well. I feel like everything I need in college is right here at MVNU. I want the Christian atmosphere throughout my four years in college and that is another reason why I am choosing MVNU. I also have great respect for Coach Flemming and the fine program that he has established in basketball at MVNU. I really look forward to playing for him because I believe he will make me a better player and a better person.”

MVNU is currently 10-4 on the season. The Cougars, who are ranked No. 24 in the latest NAIA Division II poll, have reached the 20-win mark in 11 of the past 12 seasons and made three straight trips to the NAIA Division II national tournament. The team will return to action on January 3 when MVNU travels to No. 15 Walsh University for the Cougars’ American Mideast Conference opener at 4:00 p.m.