PALATINE, Ill. – After a big 24-point, 18-rebound performance in his first college basketball game, there were high expectations for Harper College freshman Davion Benton (Chicago, Ill. /Alcott College Prep). The 6-foot-5 forward struggled over the next few weeks but realized that aggression was the key to his game.
In the second half of the season, Benton has brought that aggression to the court every game and been a huge key for the Hawks. Benton won Region IV Player of the Week honors three consecutive weeks in January and also produced the most memorable moment of the year with a highlight-reel dunk. For these reasons, Benton can call himself the sixth Harper College Athlete of the Week for the 2014-15 school year.
Benton, an Alcott College Prep (Chicago) grad who scored over 1,000 points in high school, was first spotted by Harper assistant coach Mauricio Vaca at the CPS All-Star game. Vaca was impressed with Benton's undeniable athleticism, but he was equally pleased with how personable, positive, and hard-working he was.
After Benton showed flashes of brilliance in preseason play, his monstrous first game of the year at Olive-Harvey College on Nov. 1 seemed like a sign of great things to come. However, it took some growing pains to get there.
"Besides that first game, at the start, I wasn't really aggressive. I was a team player, but we were still gelling as a team," Benton said. "I didn't have to try to force myself to score. But sometimes you need a player to stand out, so that's what I've had to do in the second half."
In 13 conference games, Benton is averaging a double-double of 17.1 PPG and 12.2 RPG while also averaging over two steals while playing over 37 minutes a night. Benton was also recognized as the NJCAA Region IV Div. III Men's Basketball Player of the Week for three straight weeks (Jan. 12, Jan. 20, Jan. 26). While the individual accolades have been a feather in his cap, Benton cherishes the tight-knit bonds he has with his teammates.
"The guys are team players, and they really want to win," he said. "Sometimes we have relapses where we argue, but that happens sometimes with a family. But we find ways to resolve the problem."
That chemistry with his teammates was on full display in Harper's home game last week against College of DuPage. On a fast-break, point guard Marcus Gatlin (Chicago, Ill./Curie) dished the ball to teammate Dvonta Jones (Joliet, Ill./Joliet West), who found Benton streaking down the lane. Benton elevated over a DuPage defender for a thunderous, one-handed slam dunk, a highlight that made it on ESPN.com, SI.com, and ESPN's SportsCenter.
Benton has also played through his fair share of injuries this year, but he has missed only one game and is now averaging a double-double of 14.0 PPG (second on team) and 10.7 RPG (16th in nation). The freshman has 11 double-doubles in 13 N4C games and has scored in double figures in 16 straight games.
With just one regular season game and playoffs remaining, Benton believes the team is ready to take the next step as long as everybody is all-in and trusting each other. Despite the Hawks' record in a loaded North Central Community College Conference, he believes his team has the right mentality now to get it done in the playoffs.
On the academic side, Benton, a liberal arts major who plans to go into computer tech someday when he transfers, has really enjoyed his classes and teachers at Harper College so far. He tries to talk to teachers as much as possible so they reach out to him.
"It feels really good to know the teacher knows your name in a school of over 20,000 people," he said.
Vaca sees bright things in the future for Benton.
"Davion has been an ace on and off the court. This year, he has proven all of what I had hoped for," Vaca said. "He's a great teammate, great player on the court, and hard worker who cares about each individual on the team. Davion has the right mentality to be success in life, whatever path he chooses."
