Dwayne Benjamin (basketball)

Dwayne Benjamin
Pardubice
Position Forward
League NBL
FIBA Europe Cup
Personal information
Born (1993-06-07) June 7, 1993
Lafayette, Louisiana
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight 210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school Northside (Lafayette, Louisiana)
College
NBA draft 2016 / Undrafted
Playing career 2016–present
Career history
2016 Bakken Bears
2017 Geraldton Buccaneers
2017–2018 Blokotehna
2018–present Pardubice
Career highlights and awards

Dwayne Benjamin (born June 7, 1993) is an American professional basketball player for Pardubice of the Czech National Basketball League (NBL). He played two seasons of college basketball for Oregon before beginning his professional career in Denmark in 2016.

High school career

Benjamin attended Northside High School in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he played basketball, football and track and field. He helped Northside's basketball team earn a 26–4 record as a senior in 2011–12. He was a talented wide receiver on the football team as well, with many schools offering him scholarships to play football. He caught 14 touchdowns and totaled 927 receiving yards on 45 receptions in 2010.[1]

College career

Coming out of high school, Benjamin joined Mt. San Jacinto College in California. During his freshman campaign in 2012–13, he averaged 15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, while compiling seven double-doubles. Playing 28 of 31 games, he was a major factor in the team's success as they finished with a 21–11 record.[1]

As a sophomore in 2013–14, Benjamin averaged 21.1 points per game while starting all 28 of the games he played. He also averaged 7.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists, and shot 44.4 percent from the field. He scored 25 or more points nine different times, including a high of 38, and grabbed more than 10 rebounds in five different games to help the team finish with a 25–5 record.[1]

After committing to Oregon in October 2013,[2] Benjamin joined the Ducks squad as a junior in 2014–15. He played in 34 of 36 games while starting in 13 as a junior, averaging 8.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 23.2 minutes per game.[3] On February 8, 2015, Benjamin scored a career-high 25 points in a 95–72 victory over Washington State. He finished 10 of 11 from the field and was perfect on three 3-point attempts.[4]

As a senior at Oregon in 2015–16, Benjamin averaged 7.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 21.7 minutes over 38 appearances as the Ducks' sixth man.[3][5] On November 25, 2015, he tied his career high of 25 points in a 91–68 win over Arkansas State.[5] Known for his athleticism and leaping ability while at Oregon, Benjamin was a valuable piece for the Ducks during their Elite Eight run in March and April 2016. He also practiced with the football team a number times during the spring before ultimately deciding that he wanted to continue his basketball career.[6][7]

Professional career

Bakken Bears (2016)

On June 30, 2016, Benjamin signed with the Bakken Bears of the Danish Basketball League for the 2016–17 season.[6] However, on November 10, 2016, he was released by Bakken.[8] In five league games, he averaged 12.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game. He also appeared in six BCL games, averaging 7.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steals per game.[8]

Geraldton Buccaneers (2017)

In January 2017, Benjamin signed with the Geraldton Buccaneers of the State Basketball League for the 2017 season.[9][10] He made his debut for the Buccaneers in their season opener on March 18, 2017, recording 33 points, five rebounds, seven assists, four steals and one block in a 119–84 win over the Kalamunda Eastern Suns.[11] A day later, he had 29 points, nine rebounds, four assists, four steals and one block in a 99–85 win over the Lakeside Lightning.[12] He was subsequently named Player of the Week for Round 1.[13][14] On May 13, 2017, he recorded season highs of 42 points and 16 rebounds in a 117–113 win over the Perth Redbacks.[15] On July 1, 2017, he had another 42-point effort in a 111–77 win over the East Perth Eagles.[16] He helped the Buccaneers finish the regular season in third place with a 19–7 record, while garnering a total of four Player of the Week awards.[17] In Game 3 of the Buccaneers' Quarter Finals series against the Stirling Senators, Benjamin scored a game-high 33 points to help the team win 84–82 and move on to the Semi Finals with a 2–1 series win.[18][19] In Game 1 of the Buccaneers' Semi Finals series against the Joondalup Wolves, Benjamin scored a game-high 34 points to help the team win 84–77.[20] The Buccaneers went on to lose the series 2–1 despite a 21-point effort from Benjamin in the 93–81 Game 3 loss.[21] In 30 games for the Buccaneers, he averaged 26.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game.[22] At the end-of-season awards night, Benjamin was selected to the SBL All-Star Five.[23]

On September 26, 2017, Benjamin signed with the Joondalup Wolves for the 2018 SBL season.[24][25][26] However, on January 22, 2018, Benjamin was replaced on the roster in order for him to pursue other, higher-level opportunities.[27][28]

Blokotehna (2017–2018)

On July 3, 2017, Benjamin signed with Macedonian club Blokotehna for the 2017–18 season.[29] He made his debut for Blokotehna in their season opener on October 8, 2017, recording 28 points and 13 rebounds in a 99–56 win over Kožuv.[30] In 31 games in the Macedonian First League, he averaged 15.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He also averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.8 steals in 13 Balkan League games.

Pardubice (2018–present)

On June 27, 2018, Benjamin signed with Czech club Pardubice for the 2018–19 season.[31]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Dwayne Benjamin – 2015–16 Basketball". GoDucks.com. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  2. ↑ Greif, Andrew (October 7, 2013). "Oregon Ducks basketball: 2014 recruit Dwayne Benjamin says UO 'was the right place for me to go'". OregonLive.com. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Dwayne Benjamin College Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Oregon dominates Washington State, 95-72". SeattleTimes.com. February 8, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Benjamin scores 25 as No. 21 Oregon beats Arkansas State". USAToday.com. November 25, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  6. 1 2 Alger, Tyson (June 30, 2016). "Dwayne Benjamin signs contract with Bakken Bears of Danish Basketball League". OregonLive.com. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  7. ↑ Alger, Tyson (April 7, 2016). "The Dwayne Benjamin football experiment comes to an end for Ducks and former hoops player". OregonLive.com. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Bakken split ways with Dwayne Benjamin". Eurobasket.com. November 10, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Buccaneers sign Dwayne Benjamin". Eurobasket.com. January 25, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  10. ↑ Fris, Justin (January 27, 2017). "Buccs sign second import". Geraldton Guardian. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Suns vs Buccaneers". FIBALiveStats.com. March 18, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Lightning vs Buccaneers". SportsTG.com. March 19, 2017. Archived from the original on August 5, 2017.
  13. ↑ "MSBL Player of the Week - Rnd 1". SportsTG.com. March 22, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Life in Geraldton, playing with Buccs just what Benjamin hoped". SportsTG.com. March 23, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  15. ↑ "WEEK 9 SATURDAY NIGHT MEN'S SBL RESULTS". SBL.asn.au. May 15, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  16. ↑ "WEEK 16 SATURDAY NIGHT MEN'S SBL RESULTS". SBL.asn.au. July 2, 2017. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  17. ↑ "PLAYERS OF THE WEEK". SBL.asn.au. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Buccaneers vs Senators". FIBALiveStats.com. August 13, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  19. ↑ "QUARTER FINALS WEEK 2 SUNDAY MEN'S SBL RESULTS". SBL.asn.au. August 13, 2017. Retrieved August 13, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Buccaneers vs Wolves". FIBALiveStats.com. August 19, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Wolves vs Buccaneers". FIBALiveStats.com. August 27, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Player statistics for Dwayne Benjamin". SportsTG.com. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  23. ↑ "2017 SBL AWARD WINNERS". SBL.asn.au. September 9, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Wolves Secure Benjamin's Brilliance". SportsTG.com. September 26, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Wolves Secure Benjamin's Brilliance". SportsTG.com. September 26, 2017. Retrieved September 26, 2017.
  26. ↑ Fris, Justin (October 5, 2017). "Benjamin to run with the Wolves". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved December 31, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Welcome Brian Sullivan". SportsTG.com. January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  28. ↑ "NCAA STAR SULLIVAN TO STRENGTHEN WOLVES' BACKCOURT". SportsTG.com. January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Двејн Бенџамин, Американец во Блокотехна". ekipa.mk (in Macedonian). July 3, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  30. ↑ "Блокотехна газдува во Гевгелија, АВ Охрид пресилен за Струмица". sport1.mk (in Macedonian). October 8, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  31. ↑ Roopnarine, Surujh (June 27, 2018). "Dwayne Benjamin (ex Blokotehna) agreed terms with BK Pardubice". Eurobasket.com. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
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