2016 NBA Draft Profile: Ben Bentil

While Kris Dunn was breaking out in his first full season as a healthy player at Providence, Ben Bentil was a role player coming off the bench. Dunn opted to return for one more season at Providence last year and there may not have been a single player in college basketball that benefited more from a teammates decision to stay in college than Bentil.

After averaging a paltry 6.4 ppg as a freshman, Bentil was arguably the most improved player in the country in his sophomore campaign.

He would go on to lead the Big East in scoring at 21.1 ppg and, unlike Dunn, Bentil decided to strike while his stock was on the rise and declare for the 2016 NBA Draft. Here’s what you need to know about Bentil.

Name

Ben Bentil

Hometown

Wilmington, DE by way of Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana

School

Providence College

Height

6’8.25

Weight

229 lbs

Wingspan

7’1.5

Age

Turned 21 on March 29th

2015-16 Stats

21.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 1.0 bpg, 78.2% FT, 32.9% 3FG, 51.0 eFG, 24.7 PER

Strengths

Bentil’s strength is his offensive ability. He measured well enough at the NBA Combine to fall into the small-ball 4 position that is all the rage in the NBA at the moment. He didn't shoot an overly high percentage from 3-point range, but he does have that range that can make him more versatile in pick and roll situations. Bentil beat his opponent down the floor in transition routinely in college and that speed and athleticism will serve him well. He also did the most reps on the bench press at the NBA Combine.

Weaknesses

One thing that people seem to knock in everything I’ve read ahead of the 2016 NBA Draft is defense. While Bentil isn’t a traditional rim protector and he isn't likely to be confused with Bruce Bowen anytime soon, he isn’t horrendous on the defensive end. He does need to become better at off-ball and rotational defense. Bentil also needs to become more consistent with his jump shooting. He has range and can get hot, but he only shot 32.9% from beyond the arc, which isn't going to cut it in the NBA.

Potential Landing Spots

This one is up in the air and Bentil’s range seems to be in the 25-35 area where there are a lot of teams that could be trading or buying picks. The Boston Celtics saw Bentil the most due to proximity and their affinity for Dunn, but they have a million picks and seem likely to be a team willing to part with many of their picks outside the First Round. Two other teams that have gotten some traction lately for Bentil are the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Clippers. Gun to my head, I’ll say Bentil is drafted by the Clippers.