Marquette University Athletics
International Standout Ben Gold Signs With Marquette
4/13/2022 10:45:00 AM | Men's Basketball
New Zealand native joins MU from NBA Global Academy
The Marquette University men's basketball team has signed Ben Gold (Wellington, New Zealand/NBA Global Academy) to a National Letter of Intent, head coach Shaka Smart announced Wednesday morning.
Gold (6-11, 220 pounds) will arrive on campus this spring and have four seasons of eligibility with the Golden Eagles.
"I'm really excited about Ben Gold," Smart said. "He's got a lot of versatility and one of the best things about him is that he can really, really move for his size. He is on an upward trajectory and he's getting better and better. His confidence has grown as his body has gotten stronger and he's really excited about coming here in late May and getting started with Sean Jones and Chase Ross."
The Wellington, New Zealand native was the first Kiwi selected to the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia and is the academy's first product from New Zealand to sign with a NCAA Division I program. Gold traveled to Las Vegas in 2021 with NBA Academy Latin America to compete against the top prep teams in the nation at the Tarkanian Classic and the G League Showcase. He finished with 22 points and eight rebounds in just 25 minutes at the showcase in a matchup against NBA Academy Africa to conclude the trip.
Gold played for Basketball New Zealand at the FIBA Basketball World Cub Qualifiers in Manila, Philippines, in late February of 2022. He also represented his country at the U15, U16 and U17 levels, including the FIBA U15 Oceania Championships in 2018.
Gold also led Wellington Basketball to the U17 Aon National Championship in 2018 and was named to the all-tourney squad in 2019.
Current Marquette player Olivier-Maxence is also a product of the NBA Academy Latin America program. NBA Academy is a year-round elite basketball development program that provides top high school-age athletes from outside the U.S. with a holistic approach to player development and a predictable pathway to maximize their potential.Â
Gold joins prep standouts Sean Jones (Gahanna, OH/Lincoln HS) and Chase Ross (Dallas, TX/Cushing Academy), who signed in November, in the program's recruiting class.
Keep up with the Marquette men's basketball program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteMBB) and Instagram (@marquette.basketball) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteMensBB). Fans interested in tickets can contact the Marquette Ticket Office online or at 414-288-GOMU (4668).
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Gold (6-11, 220 pounds) will arrive on campus this spring and have four seasons of eligibility with the Golden Eagles.
"I'm really excited about Ben Gold," Smart said. "He's got a lot of versatility and one of the best things about him is that he can really, really move for his size. He is on an upward trajectory and he's getting better and better. His confidence has grown as his body has gotten stronger and he's really excited about coming here in late May and getting started with Sean Jones and Chase Ross."
The Wellington, New Zealand native was the first Kiwi selected to the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia and is the academy's first product from New Zealand to sign with a NCAA Division I program. Gold traveled to Las Vegas in 2021 with NBA Academy Latin America to compete against the top prep teams in the nation at the Tarkanian Classic and the G League Showcase. He finished with 22 points and eight rebounds in just 25 minutes at the showcase in a matchup against NBA Academy Africa to conclude the trip.
Gold played for Basketball New Zealand at the FIBA Basketball World Cub Qualifiers in Manila, Philippines, in late February of 2022. He also represented his country at the U15, U16 and U17 levels, including the FIBA U15 Oceania Championships in 2018.
Gold also led Wellington Basketball to the U17 Aon National Championship in 2018 and was named to the all-tourney squad in 2019.
Current Marquette player Olivier-Maxence is also a product of the NBA Academy Latin America program. NBA Academy is a year-round elite basketball development program that provides top high school-age athletes from outside the U.S. with a holistic approach to player development and a predictable pathway to maximize their potential.Â
Gold joins prep standouts Sean Jones (Gahanna, OH/Lincoln HS) and Chase Ross (Dallas, TX/Cushing Academy), who signed in November, in the program's recruiting class.
Keep up with the Marquette men's basketball program through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteMBB) and Instagram (@marquette.basketball) and 'liking' on Facebook (/MarquetteMensBB). Fans interested in tickets can contact the Marquette Ticket Office online or at 414-288-GOMU (4668).
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