In all levels of basketball, there is an unspoken transition period where players go from 'good' to 'elite,' often referred to as 'the leap.' This phrase is probably most commonly used at the professional level, where many young, highly-touted prospects tend to make drastic strides forward during the early stages of their respective careers. That being said, it's also quite applicable to the younger age groups, mainly due to the amount of overall maturity (both physical and in terms of skill) that is constantly taking place. Take someone like Garrett Hien for example, who was thin and relatively unknown at Hickory Ridge, but bet on himself by transferring, reclassifying, and developing all facets of his game in a remarkable fashion. His transition was mainly due to an improved frame with additional strength. However, this article is not about Hien, it's about Trae Benham'who has quickly become the face of the Concord First Assembly program.
The question begs to be asked, 'How is Benham making this supposed ‘leap' if he's already playing at such a high level for a prolonged period of time'' Well, since going from a freshman contributor to an obvious two-way leader, Benham has continually added more to his game. His foundation has been predicated on perimeter shooting but to label him as just a shooter would simply be a mistake. In the NCISAA 3A semifinal, Benham was utterly dominant. He controlled the tempo, created havoc defensively, and was virtually unstoppable on offense. Of course the strong, lefty guard hit numerous three-pointers, but it was his ability to mix it up and capitalize in various different ways that stood out the most. From cutting to putbacks to aggressive downhill penetration, Benham was absolutely incredible. His defensive prowess doesn't seem to get enough attention because he's so polished on offense but he has an uncommon blend of size, strength, and quickness to disrupt opposing guards and force turnovers.
This isn't meant to imply that Benham needs to make a leap, but rather that it is organically happening before our eyes. Right now, he holds offers from Winthrop and North Florida but one would imagine that list expanding from two to fifteen or twenty by the end of summer. Benham has all the appeal and production that Division I coaches should already be eyeing, but it still feels like he's only going to continue to blow up over the coming months. He led Concord Fist Assembly to a state championship and carried the load in an impressive fashion but the excitement should be even greater come next season, when Benham is going to be tasked with even more responsibility.
