Ben Bentil’s improved jumper in the 2015-2016 season for Providence University men’s basketball team has him in the running for a second round fixture in the 2016 NBA mock draft.
The mock Draft is among others a projection of how teams in the NBA are goint to select players eleigible for the draft based on their production. The Ghanaian second year Power Forward , according to nbadraft.net is ranked 46 on the mock draft board which belongs to the Orlando Magic.
In his first year for the Friars, Bentil’s game was criticized for being mechanical and bit raw as he went on to average 6.4 points and 4.9 rebounds in 21.5 minutes. However, an intense workout in the offseason has seen the 20 year old improve in all areas.
With just two games remaining in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) regular season, Bentil is averaging 20.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 34.1 minutes in 29 games.In his last five games, Bentil has scored 42, 16, 17, 31 and 28 points whilst battling an ankle injury ,which is yet to fully heal, in the middle of the season.
Should he drafted by the Magic in June, Bentil will be the first Ghanaian to be drafted into the NBA but will have to battle for a spot in the crowded Orlando front court that features slam dunk runner up Aaron Gordon, Nik Vucevic, Andrew Nicholson and Ersan Illyasova.
His 28 point tally in Providence’s 87-66 win over DePaul was much needed for the Friars who are in the running for a post season run but had lost five of their last six games. Providence plays Creighton on Thursday.
