‘Both have a chance to be special.’ USC, Clemson recruits begin rivalry in Bojangles Bash
They followed each other down one hallway of Ridge View High School, turned left, came to a stop and smiled. One player was holding the other’s jersey. Ja’Von Benson had P.J. Hall’s light blue No. 24 in his hands. Hall had Benson’s white No. 21 in his.
The scene after Dorman-Ridge View on Saturday night in the Bojangles Bash has a chance to repeat itself for the next four years. Only the colors will change to orange and garnet.
Benson, the South Carolina signee, and Hall, inked to Clemson, matched up Saturday on the eve of their future schools clashing in their annual rivalry game. Blazers-Cavaliers ended less than 24 hours earlier with the Upstate team winning by 20.
“It was really fun,” Hall said with a grin. “Hopefully it’ll be the same outcome” Sunday.
Hall, SC’s top-ranked player in the 2020 class, scored 24 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had four blocks to lead the three-time defending 5A state champions past the two-time reigning 4A champs. Benson, No. 5 in SC by 247Sports, held his own with 18 points and three boards for Ridge View.
The 6-foot-9 Hall is ready-made. He proved that Saturday with a consistent performance on each end of the floor. His game stretches from the paint to the perimeter on offense and he’s a strong rim protector on defense. The 6-8 Benson has a quieter skill set that grows loud from time to time. Late in Saturday’s second quarter, Ridge View assistant coach — and Gamecocks great — Carlos Powell yelled out of a timeout, “Benson, put your head on the basket.” The senior responded with a drive to the right block and finger-roll finish.
“Definitely P.J. is a little more polished,” said Ridge View coach Yerrick Stoneman, “but Benson is more athletic right now. I think that both of them are going to be similar players in four, five years because Benson has a high ceiling, I feel, compared to P.J. just because of athleticism.
“But once Benson gets in a system, has better coaches, better nutrition, better weight facilities, he’s just going to really flourish, in my eyes.”
Hall and Benson spent parts of this part summer on the same Upward Stars AAU team. Upward coach Curt Wheeler attended Saturday’s game and arranged their photo afterward.
The moment allowed the two to truly interact with one another for the first time this week.
“That picture thing we did earlier, that was through Curt,” Benson said. “We didn’t even talk this whole weekend. You know why, though. But now we’re going to talk 24/7.”
It’s a budding rivalry on the floor that shows no signs of damaging the friendship off it. What Benson saw from Hall on Saturday night is what he’ll soon face at the next level — a versatile big who forces defenders to cover him out to the 3-point line.
“He can shoot it,” Benson said. “He stretches out the floor very well. He’s not a Clemson commit for no reason. I just have to go out there and work, do the best I can to guard him and contain him. Because somebody like that, he’s going to get his.”
Hall saw improvement from Benson.
“He was handling the ball better,” Hall said. “If he can continue to do better at that, the sky’s limit for him.”
Each brought a packed gym to its feet in different ways. Hall drew a pair of intentional fouls on what would have been dunks. The hard contact got Hall fired up and the crowd followed his lead. Benson slammed a volleyball-line line lob from teammate Cincere Scott in the first half.
Benson celebrated with a simple jog back on defense.
“One thing that makes P.J. special is that chip on his shoulder,” said Dorman coach Thomas Ryan. “And I think as Benson continues to mature in his game, his coaches are going to try and get that emotion out of him. Benson’s going to be really, really good down the road as he figures out exactly what he does best at the next level.”
Hall planned on attending Sunday’s game while Benson was set ot watch from Columbia. A year from now, they’ll be at Colonial Life Arena. One in orange, one in garnet. Same thing in 2021, just at Littlejohn Coliseum. Same thing in 2022, just back at CLA. Same thing in 2023 ...
The USC-Clemson series will continue, but how will Hall and Benson evolve?
“Three years down the road, I envision myself playing hard and competing against him,” Benson said, “and not letting that name affect the way we play. After three or four years at USC, hopefully I can go pro. That’s my goal. I’m sure he has the same goal.”
“I think both of them have a chance to be special,” Ryan said.
This story was originally published December 15, 2019 at 10:09 AM.
