Friar Basketball

Bentil, Lindsey on PC Transition

Bentilsigning

The chemistry was there from the start. When Jalen Lindsey and Ben Bentil came to Late Night Madness last season with fellow 2014 Providence commit Paschal Chukwu, the trio bonded immediately.

Lindsey’s father told me last April that he “couldn’t get over” how well the group meshed at Madness, and in the hours leading up to their first Late Night Madness as PC students, Bentil reflected on their experience of a year ago, saying, “Earlier we were talking about how it’s been a year and now it’s our time.”

In speaking to Lindsey and Bentil on Friday there were two themes that continued to come through: that they are in a learning process, both on and off the court, and how instrumental their veteran teammates have been in easing their transition to college.

“It’s been awesome,” Bentil said of his early experience at Providence. “My teammates have accepted me already.”

He continued, “With the help of my teammates I feel like I’m at home. LaDontae (Henton) has taught me a lot. He’s taken me under his wing to try to teach me the game. Guarding him has been one of the hardest things because you really can’t stop him.”

Lindsey, who said he feels like he’s back to full strength after a bout with mono this summer, echoed Bentil’s sentiments. He said he’s been able to successfully handle the typical freshman anxiety because of his teammates, citing help from upperclassmen like Henton, Kris Dunn, Tyler Harris, Carson Desrosiers and Ted Bancroft.

“One of my goals is to learn. I am a freshman and I have never played a college basketball game in my life. I am here to learn and fit in with the team and do whatever it takes to win,” said Lindsey.

“The adjustment has been great,” Lindsey shared.  “It’s a lot easier than I thought (it would be) having the leaders that we do and the coaches that we have. I’m coming in to fill a role, trying to fit in and learn from these guys. I’ve been learning stuff and picking up stuff every day.”

Of course, there are still questions about whether we’ll see Bentil this season, as Providence awaits word from the NCAA Clearinghouse on his eligibility.

Ed Cooley noted on Friday that a determination should come soon. In the meantime, Bentil has been among the most impressive players, not freshmen, but players, in practice so far this season.

“I’m going to bring everything — everything that I’ve got. I’m going to give it my best,” said Bentil. “I’m not going to promise anything but my best effort.”

“I’m a hustler out on the court. I listen to what my coaches say and try and do it. Right now I’m trying to work on my jump shot a little bit — make it more consistent. Besides that I like to rebound the ball a lot.”

Bentil came to the United States from Ghana at 15 looking for educational opportunities. He seemed to discover basketball by chance: “The main notion (behind coming to the US) was to get a better education. Basketball just came along the way.”

Bentil graduated from St. Andrew’s in Delaware in the spring, a school he said has prepared him well for the academic side of being a student athlete.

“We are here to fit in,” Lindsey said of the freshmen. “Ben’s a great player — strong, athletic. Paschal is working on his game down low and he’s going to be really good. Tyree (Chambers) has done really well in practice, so has Kyron (Cartwright), so it will be fun.”

“I think that chemistry is always going to be there,” Bentil said of his classmates. And after their bond was first built at Madness last season, he looked ahead to taking part on the floor this year, explaining, “This is a moment that we’re always going to cherish and it helps that we’ll always have each other’s backs.”

Twitter: Kevin_Farrahar

Email: kevin.farrahar@friarbasketball.com

Read more about Jalen Lindsey and Ben Bentil in our “15 in 40” season preview articles:

The Arrival of Jalen Lindsey

The Need for Bentil

 

You must be logged in to post a comment Login