South Carolina basketball signees Benson, Iriel have eyes set on winning state titles
Ja’Von Benson and Patrick Iriel struck up a friendship over the summer playing AAU basketball together for Upward Stars. They’ll be teammates for the next four years at South Carolina.
For the next few weeks, however, not much is going to be said between the two future Gamecocks as they look to help their teams to state championships.
Benson will help Ridge View try and win their third straight Class 4A title. The Region 3-4A champs ended the regular season Friday with a 71-55 win over Westwood and host a first-round game Wednesday.
Iriel and AC Flora wrapped up the Region 4-4A title Tuesday and defeated Dreher 68-47 in the regular-season finale Friday.
The Falcons are at the other end of the 4A bracket in the lower state playoffs. The only time Benson’s and Iriel’s teams could meet is in the state championship game at Colonial Life Arena on March 7.
“We are in a neutral zone right now,” Benson said Friday. “We see each other at USC games, but we aren’t texting. We made that agreement to not text until the season’s over.
“To make it to another state championship game would be a blessing, but it is no guarantee. We just have to take it one game at a game. We got to take practice and every second seriously from here on out.”
Benson said the two players spoke early last month after they both attended a USC game. They have been to a few Gamecock games this year and USC coaches have attended a handful of AC Flora and Ridge View games. Benson and Iriel are the only two players the Gamecocks signed back in November.
Both are averaging double-doubles and ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in blocks among Midlands players. The two were selected to play in the Carolinas Classic all-star game.
Benson is averaging 17.8 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.8 blocks. He had 21 points and 11 rebounds Friday against Westwood.
Iriel is averaging 12 points, 13 boards and three blocks. He had 13 on Friday against Dreher on senior night and 16 in the region-clinching win against Lower Richland on Tuesday.
“At the beginning of year we didn’t do a good job on working on the guards to get him the ball early and often,” AC Flora coach Joshua Staley said this week. “We started to get him the ball. His touches have increased and his points and output have increased.
“Pat is one of the best post players in the country. I think his humbleness, his meekness, his willingness to accept coaching and his discipline is what is going to separate him down the road. He is blessed with the size, athleticism and ball skills.”
“I have more confidence now because my teammates have more confidence in me,” Iriel said. “Everyone believing in me has helped.”
Confidence has never been a problem for Benson. He’s had that to go along with his athletic ability, which he showed Friday night with a pair of dunks, one coming as he snared the ball off a missed shot for the easy two points.
But Benson also showed off his other areas of his game Friday — and with the Ridge View staff over the summer and fall. He added a mid-range jump shot and hit three of them in a key stretch in the third quarter against Westwood.
“Been trying to focus on his mid-range game and focus on guarding people on the perimeter more. He has done a great job of that,” Ridge View coach Yerrick Stoneman saidnson. “He knows what he has to do to try and compete for starting time at South Carolina. Right now, we are only focused on the team and what we are trying to accomplish. When spring time hits and he enrolls in the summer early, you are going to see a big difference especially in the weight room. He will be a special young man.”
