Given the fact that July is right around the corner, it feels like no better time to start introducing some of the players that college coaches should be monitoring. Going into the busiest recruiting month of the year, our Summer Havoc should be a hotbed for coaches and players alike. As usual, Phenom Hoops will have prospects of all levels in attendance. This series will continue by taking a closer look at Jake Benham of Concord Academy and Mint Hill Lakers.
We’ve watched Benham emerge over the last calendar year, stating, “Given his sheer level of involvement from start to finish, it would be impossible to ignore everything that Benham showcased in this contest. He absolutely caught fire in the opening minutes and never looked back, hitting one jumper after another, and posing a constant shooting threat with or without the ball in his hands. Benham possesses essentially perfect shot mechanics and sacrifices no wasted movement within his form. He displays range, solid vision, and useful shot-creation skills. Benham also moves well without the ball and only requires a glimmer of space to get off clean looks.” Later followed by, “Rounding out the group, Benham makes another marksman for this group. Between his effortless shooting stroke, ability to heat up quickly, and consistency at convert highly difficult jumpers, it’s easy to be impressed. Benham also possesses excellent range and impressive quickness on his release. This should come as no surprise, as he’s starting to build a reputation as one of the top shooters in the entire state. Watching him against his brother in a shooting competition would be very interesting—he’s that great as a shooter. That being said, Benham has also made clear strides outside of his jump shooting. He’s improved as a playmaker and penetrator, which has already opened his game considerably.”
It feels like Benham has only continued to produce while consistently developing his overall identity as a player. He’s easily among the top pure shooters within North Carolina, but it’s easy to see the strides he’s made as a playmaker and defender over the recent months. Benham displays a nice comfort level with the ball in his hands, both when looking to create for himself and others, and can initiate the offense as needed. He shoots the ball at a high percentage, moves well as a cutter, and displays a great understanding of when to let it fly or make the extra pass. Benham does a quality job of playing the passing lanes defensively and getting to his spots in transition. He’s capable of heating up quickly from the perimeter. Though already a useful player, Benham should only continue to progress over the foreseeable future. College coaches can watch him at our Summer Havoc on July 6-9.