Let me start off by saying I've never seen this guy play so I really have no idea beside what I'm reading and the few internet clips I've seen..But man I tell ya, this guy looks like one hell of an intriguing prospect. Just judging by this clip alone, this dude shows such a variety of skills, many of which you don't usually expect to see outta someone that big..It goes beyond the typical 'long, athletic, good motor' type stuff you normally associate with a good big man prospect. Looks to be so much more here..This clip really reminds me of JaVale McGee's 2-part pre-draft youtube clip from a few years ago---I think Benson's showing that kind of variety here...He plays ball at Oakland University so it's all gotta be taken with a small grain of salt I suppose (then again, JaVale McGee never played against top competition night in & night out while at Nevada, did he?) but it's still impressive nonetheless..The overall numbers are impressive as well, numbers he's managed to pretty much duplicate two years in a row: 17.4 ppg (on 54.3 %), 10 rpg, 3.8 bpg (good for tops in the nation)...No doubt he's a semi-project and probably not someone the Knicks would look at esp. if we get Melo who would only amplify the 'win now' mentality, but there's so much to work with here: superior shot-blocker, double-digit rebounding potential, competent-looking post-up player who can score the ball with either hand with nice touch (looks like he's really got the baby hook down with either hand and he's able to convert while absorbing contact), good footwork, can pass out of a double-team, shows a little bit of a fancy handle along with a very good looking jumpshot from mid to high range (he's hit 5 3s this season), sometimes with a potent little step back move before shooting.
Nbadraft.net gives a comparison of Steven Hunter---I don't see that at all..Outside of the shot-blocking, I don't remember Hunter being able to do even half of what Benson is showing in this clip..He really reminds me more of JaVale McGee. I think he looks even more versatile than Jerome Jordan to be honest.. Only knock, besides the subpar competition, is the fact that he's a little thin, listed at only 225 lbs. -- I think he could easily add another 5-10 lbs. of muscle w/o compromising these other elements to his game however. It shouldn't take much more than that--he's already at 225, not 200..Among other assets, if it takes Mozgov and the rights to Jerome Jordan to land Melo, I'd think long and hard about acquiring an extra pick to grab this guy---or possibly even think about him around pick 20, esp if he begins making a late move up the boards. I can't believe he's ranked so low in the major draft mocks out there..Dude looks like 1st round material to me even if an NBA team might have to wait for the entire package to develop a little bit. Think about how much we'd have to pay DeAndre Jordan to pry him away from the Clippers and then think about this guy, a guy with more skills that we might be able to get by simply acquiring an extra pick...Anyone out there seen this guy play regularly that might be able to offer up some better perspective??
2/14/2011 9:19 AM LAST EDITED: 2/14/2011 9:28 AM