April 24, 2008

Upper Iowa Head Men's Basketball Coach Brian Dolan announced today that Marion High School senior Keith Steffeck has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Upper Iowa University and play for the Peacocks.

Steffeck, a 6'8", 190-pound forward, averaged 12.7 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game as a senior for Marion High School. He set his career highs in points and rebounds with 31 and 16, respectively, against Benton Community High School in December.

"Keith is a very versatile player who will improve the overall athleticism of our basketball team," Dolan said. "At 6'8", Keith will be a tough match-up for our opponents because he has the ability to score in a variety of ways. One of the most impressive things about Keith is the range on his jump shot. We are excited to have him as a part of our basketball program. With some hard work, Keith has a bright future here at Upper Iowa."

Chris Bowser, Keith's summer coach with the Future Stars AAU program, said, "I'm very happy that Keith has found a great home to extend his basketball career into college. He's a great athlete and a better kid. If he is willing to work hard and listen to the coaches, Keith can be a special player for Upper Iowa University." Steffeck is the fourth high school player to sign with Upper Iowa. He joins a class that already includes Austin Emerson of A-D-M High School, Mark Lafrenz of Tipton High School, and Lee Parker of Nashua-Plainfield High School.

Upper Iowa University, located in Fayette, Iowa, is a member of NCAA Division II and the highly competitive Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. UIU is the only NCAA Division II institution in the state of Iowa.