Adding Height and Heart to the B-W Roster
By: Matthew Florjancic, Correspondent
BEREA—There are many things basketball coaches can teach their young basketball players. However, one thing that cannot be taught is height. With that said, coaches may not be able to teach height, but they sure can recruit and utilize it.
This year, Baldwin-Wallace College veteran men’s basketball coach, Steve Bankson brought in three players that stand six-feet and six inches tall. But the one who is making the most immediate impact for the 11-2 overall and 5-1 and Ohio Athletic Conference leading Yellow Jackets is Hinckley native and Medina Highland High School graduate Andrew Bene.
Bene, a 19-year-old freshman mathematics major, has appeared in seven games for the Yellow Jacketsand is averaging 1.3 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. On the defensive end of the courtl, Bene has taken several charges. This “extra” effort has not gone unnoticed by his coaches or teammates.
“He is a good defender,” said veteran B-W Assistant Coach and North Royalton resident Don Hershey who followed Bene on the recruiting trail last winter. “The other thing that we were impressed with as a coaching staff was how many charges he [Andrew] would take covering up for his teammates.”
He already has a couple this year for us in his limited time,” added Hershey. “He needs to get a little stronger, but we are pleased with his development.”
“He is going to be a great player for us and he is really motivated,” said preseason All-American and current OAC scoring and rebounding leader Tori Davis, a junior forward. “Andrew comes in everyday to work hard and he does not take a backseat to anyone. What we need is for him to continue to step up and get better tand better.”
With Davis, seniors Dan Gundert and Charod Hale and junior forward Chad Clark playing the bulk of the minutes on the inside for the Yellow Jackets, playing time for Bene will be at a premium. But that doesn’t bother Bene, who lifts weights and runs in the Hinckley parks to stay in shape during the off-season. His goal is to keep getting better because of the people he works with everyday in practice.
“It is different because every team I have been on, I have started or gotten a lot of playing time right from the start,” said Bene, who saw some of his most significant playing time this season against nationally-ranked opponents Albion (Mich) and Wooster. “The most difficult part is getting used to how fast the game is at this level.
“I have to practice against an All-American [Tori Davis] everyday in practice, and that valuable experience is only going to make me a better player in the long-run,” said Bene. “I also got to play in a summer league with many of the same players too, and that helped me get my feet wet.”
Prior to coming to B-W, Bene took part in the Nike Swiss Tournament in Switzerland. Despite the different rules of international basketball, Bene enjoyed the experience.
“They [the Europeans] are a bunch of soccer players turned into basketball players who like to run in transition,” said Bene. “It was a great experience and they know how to play basketball.”
At Medina Highland H.S., Bene was a standout player. During his junior campaign, he scored 11.4 points and grabbed 10 rebounds per contest. He converted 50 percent of his shots from the floor.
As a senior, Bene improved those numbers as he scored 14.4 points a game and grabbed 12 caroms a game. Bene’s Hornets competed and won the Suburban League against some very good competition. Bene remembered one game at the end of his high school career that stood out in his mind.
“Winning the Suburban League was a goal we set for ourselves really early,” said Bene, a two-year letterman for the Hornets. “The last game was at Copley when we won it [the Suburban League title] and all the fans stormed the court. It was a great experience and one that I would like to experience again here at B-W”
Bene led Highland to the District Semifinals before falling to the Fighting Irish of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
Most athletes see injuries as potential setbacks in their athletic endeavors. However, for this Yellow Jacket, an injury helped him develop his game.
“When I was in sixth grade, I broke my right wrist and I learned how to dribble with my left hand,” he said.
No matter what happened on the court, Bene, who plays because of his deep love for the game of basketball, looks to his father for guidance.
“My father will not let me give up,” said Bene, who chose B-W over OAC rivals Heidelberg College and last Saturday’s opponent, Wilmington College. “My parents always encouraged me to play athletics and supported me throughout that experience. When I was down, my Dad knew how to help pick up my spirits. I have always appreciated that support.”
Bene tries to model his game after one of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“There are a few players who I like to emulate, like Timberwolves great Kevin Garnett,” said Bene with a smile. “He is just smooth and fluid. I like the players who can step outside and shoot the jumper and play on the inside.”
With his continued growth both mentally and physically, and his consistent work ethic, Bene has what it takes to help lead this Yellow Jacket squad to an OAC Championship and a berth into the 2006 NCAA Division III Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Bene and the Yellow Jackets will be back in action this Wednesday (Jan. 11) when B-W travels to University Heights to play OAC and Greater Cleveland cross-town rival John Carroll University at the Tony DeCarlo Varsity Center at 7:30 p.m. This Saturday, Jan. 14, Bene and the Yellow Jackets host Marietta College at the Rudolph Ursprung Gymnasium in Berea at 3:00 p.m.
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