Benjamin has high hopes for Pitt basketball team

As a sophomore at Mount Vernon High School in New York, Keith Benjamin sat down and made a… As a sophomore at Mount Vernon High School in New York, Keith Benjamin sat down and made a list. On the list were seven colleges and universities that he hoped to play for one day. The list ranged from UConn to Duke to the University of North Carolina, and on that list was the University of Pittsburgh. At the time, Pitt hadn’t climbed to the top of the college basketball world, but Benjamin was interested in Pitt for a different reason.

“It was a place where I had family members,” the 6-foot-2-inch guard Benjamin said. “They became an even better team by my 11th-grade year, and I really wanted to be on their list, but I thought they would never come after me.”

The Panthers didn’t initially show any interest, and Benjamin committed to another Big East team on his list — the Villanova Wildcats — in July 2003. With guard Derrick Snowden beginning his last season of eligibility, the Wildcats needed a replacement at the two guard, and the fit seemed perfect for Benjamin. However, before the season, Snowden tore his anterior cruciate ligament and was red-shirted by the Wildcats. Benjamin knew his prospects of playing right away were drastically reduced, so he reopened his recruiting options.

Benjamin already had a tie to the Panthers — he just didn’t know it yet. Once his recruiting was reopened, his cousin, who helps run the Entertainers League in New York, contacted Panther guard Carl Krauser, a one-time player in the league, about a possible open scholarship with the Panthers. Krauser spoke with the Panther coaching staff, and the rest is history for Benjamin.

“Before I knew it, they were knocking on the door,” Benjamin said. “That was really it for me. After that, I just knew I wanted to be here. It wasn’t so much the chance of playing time, but the opportunity to be around great people. The playing time will come with hard work and dedication.”

Now the aunt and cousin that Benjamin had on his mind as a sophomore in high school can come to Oakland and watch him play for the Panthers. Being able to play in front of family is something that Benjamin has always had the privilege of doing, and he is excited to keep the tradition going.

“My aunt is a real big fan, and she doesn’t get to see me play that much,” he said. “Now that I am here, my mother and brothers will travel, and my aunt can stay right at home and watch me play.”

On the court, Benjamin is described as a gifted athlete who can jump extremely high, shoot the ball well, and who excels at defense. He has drawn rave reviews for his dunking ability, and scouts have compared him to ex-Panther Julius Page, who used his athletic talent to become one of the nation’s premiere defenders.

As a senior, Benjamin averaged 14.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while dishing out 3.3 assists per contest. He helped Mount Vernon win 15 straight games, including the 2004 AA state title game, scoring 15 points.

“Keith is one of the most knowledgeable young men to come through our program,” his high school head coach Bob Cimmino said. “He has seen what hard work can do. He was a real gym rat in his time here. He achieved some great things. His desire is great, and his basketball I.Q. is high. Keith will really buy into the philosophies at Pitt and with coach [Jamie] Dixon.”

Benjamin, who will turn just 18 on Oct. 23, has looked to Krauser for guidance on how to handle basketball in the Big East and, more importantly, how to become a better player. Benjamin says Krauser has been like a big brother to him, reminding him to always be a student of the game.

“Words can’t really describe how much he has taught me so far,” Benjamin said of his backcourt mate. “Carl has been a great teacher and has shown me a lot of things to work on — what I need to do and what I don’t need to do in college basketball.”

Krauser says he likes the idea of being a big brother and teacher to Benjamin because he has shown he has the ability and desire to learn.

“Keith likes to listen, and he likes to learn. He never wants to stop playing basketball. We have to kick him out of the gym sometimes,” Krauser said. “When Keith and I get on the court, it’s like seeing a younger version of me out there. He is very enthusiastic, and when we get on the court together it’s like a dynamic duo. It is going to be fun to watch us play.”

Off the court, Benjamin has impressed his teammates with his ability to keep everyone loose with his sense of humor. Cracking jokes and even rapping are part of Benjamin’s arsenal when it comes to laughs.

“You need someone that can keep people loose like that,” sophomore Chris Taft said. “He knows that when it’s game time, it’s time to get serious.”

Winning the state title his senior year was a great accomplishment for Benjamin. Each day he remembers how hard he worked by wearing a ring with the number one on it, which he received when he won the title. These days, Benjamin has the idea for a new list and a new ring.

“I worked a lot in high school to get that ring, and I wore it all the time,” he said. “But now I think it’s time for me to stop wearing it and get me one of those Big East Championship rings, or even National Championship.”

So there’s room for all three?

“When I put those rings on, I’ll put the No. 1 ring back on and continue my journey.”