We’ve seen a lot of players come through our doors over the years, varying in appearance, skill level, and everything in between. We decided to put forth a “Getting to Know” series on some players who have attended events but still remain on the lesser-known side of things. Each of these prospects embody being a student-athlete and getting it done in the classroom as well as on the basketball court, and today’s edition will take a closer look at Derrick Benbow of Living Water Christian.
We’ve seen Benbow numerous times with Team Loaded, where we stated, “While the aforementioned duo could’ve likely been predicted by most, Derrick Benbow consistently stands out among their most intriguing and underrated pieces. While his size at the guard position has obvious appeal, the way he moves is arguably even more desirable. Benbow already regularly highlights craftiness and quality creation skills with the understanding of how to make an impact with or without the ball in his hands. He’s a nice athlete with IQ, skill, and fairly well-rounded skillset, which already makes him a difficult matchup for opponents. Add in his toughness, defensive prowess, and transition ability, and it’s easy to see a path towards Benbow becoming a high-level prospect. It’s still early, but more folks should be monitoring the young guard over the foreseeable future.”
Although there’s a ton of talented guard prospects across North Carolina, it feels like Benbow should have more buzz surrounding his name. The overabundance of talent on Team Loaded can sometimes overshadow someone as unselfish as Benbow. He’s a smart, very well-rounded guard with impressive physical tools between his frame, length, and athleticism. Benbow displays a crafty handle when looking to create for himself or others, and is able to place emphasis on playmaking or three-level scoring—whatever the team should need. Although he’s already very talented and possesses a ton of enticing tools, Benbow is truly just scratching the surface of his long-term upside. He has the chance to be a high-level player within North Carolina’s Class of 2024.