With Martin looking on, future Gamecock Benson helps Ridge View to another title
Playing in front of his future coach in the arena where he will play his college basketball, Ja’Von Benson was full of nerves before Saturday’s state championship game.
South Carolina head coach Frank Martin, assistants Chuck Martin and Perry Clark were seated on press row at Colonial Life to watch Benson, a Ridge View senior forward and Gamecocks signee.
USC lost earlier in the day at Vanderbilt but the Gamecocks coaches wanted to make sure they got a look at Benson in his final high school game. Benson was shaky in the first half, going up against Myrtle Beach’s JJ Jones, a Division I football prospect. He was held scoreless in the first two quarters with six rebounds.
The second half was a different story. Benson scored 14 points in the second half and also finished with 13 rebounds in helping the Blazers to a 69-59 victory over the Seahawks in the Class 4A championship game.
“I had Frank and Chuck Martin watching me so I was nervous but I did the best I can,” Benson said. “The first half I didn’t score at all so I wanted to do the best I can to help this team. I did a pretty good job rebounding throughout the whole game but offensively I had to put myself into the game.”
It was Ridge View’s third title in a row and Benson had a big hand in two of them. He sat out his sophomore year after he transferred from Westwood.
After the game, Benson shed tears as he hugged Carlos Powell, a former Gamecock standout who completed his first season as Ridge View assistant. The two have forged a special bond this season with Powell helping him to get ready for college.
The two plan to work together over the spring as Benson gets ready for the transition from high school to college basketball.
“I couldn’t help but let it out,” Benson said. “We just did a three-peat and I was thankful to be part of it.
“I learned a lot from Carlos with him being from USC. He taught me how to block out the noise and do the best I can.”
Benson has come a long way in his two years at Ridge View, both on and off the court. He was shy and quiet during interviews but has come out of his shell and even cut in while Ridge View coach Yerrick Stoneman was doing an interview outside the locker room.
Stoneman thinks Benson is just getting started with his development. The forward averaged 17.5 points and 11.2 rebounds in earning Class 4A Player of the Year honors.
Benson also was selected to play in the Carolinas Classic All-Star game.
“He is gaining more confidence in himself and his game has improved,” Stoneman said. “Whether it is putting it on the floor a little more or using his jump shot. Tonight, I think he needed that dunk (in third quarter) to get him started. Once he got that dunk, he was ready to roll and get his double-double.
“It is going to be an adjustment period for him at USC. Every night, every practice he is going against someone his size or better. But the best thing about Ja’Von, he isn’t afraid of competition. He is ready for it.”
