PC's Ben Bentil to Test NBA Draft Waters
Joe Calabro, GoLocalProv Sports Team
PC's Ben Bentil to Test NBA Draft Waters
Providence forward Ben Bentil will put his name into the 2016 NBA Draft, but not sign with an agent, giving him the option to return, scout.com.
Bentil also said in a tweet that he was just testing the waters.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTJust testing out the waters
— SIR PABLO (@benbentil) March 23, 2016
Bentil averaged 21 points and 7 rebounds per game this season for Providence, shooting 46% from the field, 33% from three-point land and 78% from the free throw line.
He was also the leading scorer in the Big East this season and named the conference's Most Improved Player.
GoLocal spoke to an NBA Scout earlier this week who said, "I think the chances of him making an NBA roster next year are pretty slim. Ideally he goes back to school and works on his skills."
Bentil's Projected Draft Position
If Bentil does leave after this season, ESPN's Chad Ford projects he would go anywhere from pick 20-35 in the NBA Draft, so late first round, early 2nd.
DraftExpress has Bentil ranked 58th on their list of top 100 prospects while NBADraft.net has Bentil ranked 60th in their list of top 100 prospects.
Important Deadlines for Bentil
The NBA and NCAA changed the rules allowing players to enter the draft multiple times and participate in the combine and one NBA team tryout per year.
The players will also be allowed up to 10 days after the combine to withdraw from the draft. The combine is set to take place from May 11-15 in Chicago with the early entry date set for May 25.
The NBA Draft will be held on June 23 in Brooklyn.
Dunn vs. Bentil in the Big East
at Butler
Friars Win 81-73
Edge - Dunn
Kris Dunn
Dunn had 20 points on 6 of 12 shooting from the field while dishing out 9 assists and grabbing 7 rebounds.
Of Dunn's 20 points, 16 of them came in the second half helping to lead the Friars back from a 36-25 half time deficit.
Dunn had two turnovers in the game.
Ben Bentil
Bentil had 19 points on 7 of 13 shooting from the field while grabbing 5 rebounds in the game.
Bentil also had 2 turnovers in the game.
vs. St. John's
Friars Win 83-65
Edge - Dunn
Kris Dunn
Dunn had 26 points on 9 of 17 shooting from the field while also grabbing 9 rebounds and dishing out 6 assists. Dunn also recorded 3 steals in the game. Dunn also had 5 turnovers in the game.
Kris Dunn scored 9 straight points for Providence in the second half to seal the win after the Johnnies had got as close as 6 points, 56-50, with 9 minutes to go.
Ben Bentil
Bentil had 20 points on 6 of 12 shooting from the field and 8 of 9 from the free throw line. Bentil grabbed 9 rebounds in the game.
Bentil had 5 turnovers in the game.
vs. Marquette
Friars Lose 65-64
Edge - Bentil
Bent Bentil
Bentil led the Friars with 28 points on 9 of 17 shooting from the field, including 10 of 10 from the free throw line. Bentil also grabbed 9 rebounds.
Bentil had 2 turnovers in the game.
Kris Dunn
Dunn had 20 points on 7 of 14 shooting from the field while also dishing out 7 assists and grabbing 5 rebounds. However, Dunn turned the ball over 7 times and the Friars failed to get a shot off at the end to try and win the game.
at Creighton
Friars Win 50-48
Edge - Dunn
Kris Dunn
Dunn netted 20 points on 6 of 17 shooting from the field while grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out three assists. Dunn also had 5 turnovers in the game, one of which led to Creighton's game tying basket.
With time winding down, Dunn knocked down a jump shot from just outside the painted area to give PC the win.
Ben Bentil
Bentil had 13 points on 4 of 12 shooting from the field while also grabbing 8 rebounds in the game.
Bentil had 3 turnovers in the game.
vs. Seton Hall
Friars Lose 81-72
Edge - Bentil
Ben Bentil
Bentil had 21 points on 4 of 15 shooting from the field and 12 of 13 from the free throw line. Bentil also grabbed 9 rebounds in the game.
Bentil had 2 turnovers in the game.
Kris Dunn
Dun poured in 16 points on 5 of 11 shooting from the field while grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing out 2 assists. Dunn had 4 turnovers and fouled out late in the game.
vs. Butler
Friars Win 71-68
Edge - Bentil
Ben Bentil
Bentil had 20 points on 6 of 14 shooting from the field to go along with 7 rebounds. Bentil went 8 of 10 from the free throw line and gave Providence the lead for good.
Bentil had 2 turnovers in the game.
Kris Dunn
Dunn had 9 points on 3 of 8 shooting from the field to go with 7 assists and 5 rebounds and 4 turnovers.
With two minutes to play, Dunn drove to the basket and dished to Ben Bentil for a dunk that would give Providence a 68-66 lead. On the next possession, Dunn hit a three to increase PC's lead to 5 points.
at Villanova
Friars Win 82-76
Edge - Bentil
Ben Bentil
Bentil poured in 31 points on 11 of 19 shooting from the field and 8 of 10 from the free throw line while also grabbing 13 rebounds for his 5th double double of the season.
With 17 seconds left in the over time period, Ben Bentil took a pass from Kyron Cartwright and converted the layup to Providence a four point lead, 76-72, with time winding down. Bentil then converted 4 of 6 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Bentil had 3 turnovers in the game.
Kris Dunn
Kris Dunn netted 13 points on 5 of 10 shooting from the field while dishing out 14 assists, grabbing 5 rebounds and recorded 4 steals. However, Dunn also had 6 turnovers in the game.
vs. Xavier
Friars Lose 75-68
Edge - Bentil
Ben Bentil
Bentil poured in 25 points on 8 of 18 shooting from the field and 7 of 9 from the free throw line. Bentil also grabbed 6 rebounds.
Bentil had 2 turnovers in the game.
Kris Dunn
Dunn netted 16 points on 6 of 15 shooting from the field while grabbing 8 rebounds, dishing out 7 assists and recording 7 steals, while turning the ball over 4 times.
at Georgetown
Friars Win 73-69
Toss up
Ben Bentil
Ben Bentil netted 26 points on 8 of 12 shooting from the field and 9 of 10 from the free throw line and had 9 rebounds.
With 13:33 to go, the Hoyas cut PC's lead to one, 44-43, and on the next possession it was Bentil who hit the biggest shot of the game to give Providence a three point lead back.
Bentil also hit six straight free throws in the final 27 seconds to seal the win.
Bentil had 4 turnovers in the game.
Kris Dunn
Dunn poured in 26 points on 8 of 17 shooting from the field and 8 of 10 from the free throw line. Dunn also recorded four steals in the game.
Dunn had 2 turnovers in the game.
at DePaul
Friars Lose 77-70
Incomplete
Kris Dunn
Dunn led PC with 14 points on 5 of 20 shooting from the field. Dunn also dished out 8 assists while only turning the ball over 2 times in the game.
Ben Bentil
Bentil got injured int he first half after a DePaul player rolled on his ankle. Bentil tried to play through it but was ineffective and sat out the majority of the second half.
Bentil had 1 turnover in the game before leaving.
