Photo Courtesy of Hillcrest Academy Yearbook

Hillcrest Academy forward Grant Bender brought it on the court and in the classroom during the recently completed basketball season. The Raven senior received Academic All-State honors this week from the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association. He led the Ravens with 423 points this year, third in the Southeast Iowa Superconference, finishing his career with more than 900. His 57 steals were fourth in conference, his 56% field goal percentage is sixth in the league with 137 boards, ninth in conference.

Bender was one of 24 athletes chosen this season. The group has an average ACT score of 26, GPA of 3.9 and averaged at least 15 points per game.