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NCAA Clears Ben Bentil

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As first reported by Kevin McNamara of the Providence Journal, the Ben Bentil eligibility saga is finally over. The NCAA cleared the 6’8 freshman earlier today, ending the prolonged investigation of the African native.

Ed Cooley told the Providence Journal that issues with Bentil’s academic background, in his home country of Ghana, provoked his questioned eligibility. Bentil, a standout player in Delaware’s St. Andrew’s School, finished his high school career with a 3.4 GPA, a mark that would seem to speak for itself. Nonetheless, the NCAA still must have found reason to dig deeper into Bentil’s academic history.

Over the past several years, PC hasn’t had the greatest luck with eligibility issues and for this one to come out on the positive end, is huge for Ed Cooley and his Providence program.

Bentil, a top 100 recruit in this year’s freshman class has been tabbed by McNamara as the most impressive player in practices thus far. Not the best freshman, the best player. CBS’s Jon Rothstein even suggested the idea of Bentil being in the mix for Big East Rookie of the Year.

For more information on Bentil and what to expect out of him this season, check out Kevin Farrahar’s feature from several weeks ago, The Need for Bentil.

Email Craig – craig.belhumeur@friarbasketball.com
On Twitter – @Craig_Belhumeur

23 Comments

  1. Sean Leonard

    October 24, 2014 at 11:07 pm

    HUGE!

  2. Tommy Larsen

    October 24, 2014 at 11:08 pm

    Excuse me while I pick up my jaw from the floor caused by shock!

  3. John Allen

    October 24, 2014 at 11:09 pm

    Takes a little sting out of losing Bullock

  4. Matt Norman

    October 24, 2014 at 11:11 pm

    How good is this kid?

  5. Joshua Michael Corrente

    October 24, 2014 at 11:12 pm

    Good news- about f**k’*n time-

  6. Brian Powers

    October 24, 2014 at 11:15 pm

    Great news! Took long enough

  7. Jeremy Nunes

    October 24, 2014 at 11:16 pm

  8. Anthony Razza

    October 24, 2014 at 11:19 pm

    Something going the Friars way? About dang time!! GO FRIARS!!!

  9. Peter Izzo

    October 24, 2014 at 11:19 pm

    Awesome news!!!

  10. Frank Landry

    October 24, 2014 at 11:21 pm

    I LOVE the depth of this year’s
    Team. REPEAT

  11. Craig Belhumeur

    October 24, 2014 at 11:22 pm

    Matt, Bentil is projected to be very good. After speaking with Kevin McNamara of the Projo (Who has been in a lot of practices so far this season) he said Bentil has been by far the best player on the court. Not the best freshman, the best player.

  12. James Adams

    October 24, 2014 at 11:25 pm

    Great news, he is highly touted

  13. Laura Maguire

    October 24, 2014 at 11:26 pm

    Finally caught a break! Yay!

  14. Matt Norman

    October 24, 2014 at 11:27 pm

    Sounds good, I’ll know McNamara knows his basketball!

  15. Christopher William Raymond

    October 24, 2014 at 11:37 pm

    Tamara Jon Small

  16. Ron Lacroix

    October 24, 2014 at 11:54 pm

    One big dude

  17. Eric Suffoletto

    October 25, 2014 at 1:26 am

    Wish I could like this more than once.

  18. Thomas J. Fay

    October 25, 2014 at 1:46 am

    Watch out Big East- he is a BEAST!!!!

  19. Ann Agostini

    October 25, 2014 at 2:10 am

    we needed some good news….but this is great news for ben, players, coach, staff and fans……GO FRIARS

  20. Paul Bell

    October 25, 2014 at 3:59 am

    Thank goodness!

  21. Chris Girard

    October 25, 2014 at 11:59 am

    Finally some great news for the Friars!!!

  22. Marty McGreevy

    October 25, 2014 at 2:13 pm

    woo hoo!!! Go Friars!

  23. Erik Armfield

    October 25, 2014 at 6:40 pm

    Jus another Friar that will never pan out- getting excited over nothing!!!! Go Cats!!!!!

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