Benson “Patterns” Game After KG
After averaging a double-double per game in consecutive seasons for the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, center Keith Benson is ready to take his game to the pro’s and is molding his game after one of the game’s greats: Boston Celtics’ big man Kevin Garnett.
The Senior, who’s projected to go early in the second round by many experts (37th to the Los Angeles Clippers according to our most recent HOOPSWORLD Mock Draft), told HOOPSWORLD he feels like KG’s game is something he strives to emulate.
"I try to pattern my game after Kevin Garnett," Benson said. "I like the way he plays defense, blocks shots and he just has a big overall presence on the court."
Over the last two seasons, Benson averaged over 17 points per game and 10 rebounds, and at 6-11 with a winspan of over 7’3 has the length and athletic ability to make things happen on both ends of the court.
"I can be a lockdown defender and a scoring option," Benson said. "I was the main scoring option in college so I can fit in and do other things as well."
Coming out of a mid-major university, Benson knows he has to prove he belongs with some of the other players in the draft that came from major universities. However, with solid outings against teams like Tennessee (26 points, 10 rebounds, two blocks on December 14th) and Texas (15 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks on March 18th) during the course of the 2010-2011 season; Benson showed he has the ability to play with the big boys.
Current NBA players like Golden State’s Stephen Curry, who have succeeded at the highest level after coming from smaller programs, have certainly helped decrease some of the obstacles these college players have in going pro.
{AUTHOR_BOX}"Sometimes people bring up the competition but I think we played a strong non-conference schedule and I had a good showing against most of those teams," Benson said. "So the way [others] come out of the smaller schools has really helped players like me come out and show that it’s about the player, not about where you came from…
"I think people know about my skill level. Sometimes they don’t think I go as hard, so I just try to show how aggressive I can be and kind of prove that misconception wrong because some people think that about me."
After being weighed in at just 217 lbs at the 2011 NBA Combine, getting bigger and stronger will certainly be a focus for Benson going into the draft, and over the first few years his NBA career. He is much too small at this point to grind it out with some of the low post beasts in today’s NBA but, at just 23 years-old, Benson has plenty of room to grow both physically and on the court.
"I think I continue to get better every year," Benson said.
Follow Derek Page on Twitter for all of your basketball needs.
Loading ...
