Keith Benson

Keith Anderson Benson Jr. (born August 13, 1988)[1][2] is an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Oakland University. A 6-foot-11 center, Benson was a second-round pick (48th overall) in the 2011 NBA draft, selected by the Atlanta Hawks. He has since played in Italy, Philippines, Belarus, China, Lithuania, Estonia and the NBA Development League.

For the Australian rugby league player, see Keith Benson (rugby league).

Keith Benson
Benson with Oakland in 2009
Personal information
Born (1988-08-13) August 13, 1988
Cleveland, Ohio
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight247 lb (112 kg)
Career information
High schoolDetroit Country Day School
(Beverly Hills, Michigan)
CollegeOakland (2007–2011)
NBA draft2011: 2nd round, 48th overall pick
Selected by the Atlanta Hawks
Playing career2011–present
PositionCenter / power forward
Career history
2011Dinamo Sassari
2012Sioux Falls Skyforce
2012Golden State Warriors
2012–2013Erie BayHawks
2013Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters
2013Erie BayHawks
2013–2014Tsmoki-Minsk
2014Shaanxi Wolves
2014–2015Neptūnas Klaipėda
2015Kalev/Cramo
2015–2017Sioux Falls Skyforce
2017Guizhou
2017Aris Thessaloniki
2018Osaka Evessa
2018–2019Eisbären Bremerhaven
2019–2020South East Melbourne Phoenix
2020Shabab Al Ahli
2020–2021Rytas
2021Levski Sofia
2021–2022Kaohsiung Steelers
2022–2023Juventus Utena
2023Taichung Suns
Career highlights and awards
Stats  at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

High school career

Born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Benson attended Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills, Michigan.[1][3] On the Detroit Country Day basketball team, Benson averaged only 6.9 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as a senior.[4] Benson initially committed to Fairfield, but changed his mind after a coaching change and committed to Oakland after they offered him a scholarship.[5]

College career

After redshirting his first year at Oakland, Benson became a starter for the 2007–08 season. Benson started 20 of the team's 29 games and averaged 5.2 points and 3.5 rebounds.[6] He finished the season with 40 blocks—one shy of Oakland's single-season record.[7] However, he was benched prior to the conference tournament because OU's head coach, Greg Kampe, felt Benson was not playing good enough defense.[7]

At the conclusion of his redshirt junior season, Benson received the Lou Henson Award, given to the "mid-major player of the year".[8] Benson was also named the Summit League Player of the Year.[9] Benson declared himself eligible for the 2010 NBA draft,[10] but withdrew himself after he was unable to work out with NBA teams due to an injured right thumb.[11]

Benson earned a Bachelor of Integrative Studies degree with a minor in art history from Oakland in August 2010, prior to his redshirt senior season.[12] During his senior season in 2010–11, Benson enrolled in master's-level architecture courses in Oakland.[11] In basketball, he set the Summit League's record for career blocks.[13] He broke the record of 317, set by Keith Closs of Central Connecticut State University from 1994–96.[14] Benson was named the Summit League's Player of the Year for the second consecutive season in 2011.

Professional career

2011–12 season

After being projected as a late-second round pick,[15] Benson was selected with the 48th overall pick in the 2011 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks,[16] becoming the first player from Oakland University selected in the NBA draft.[16] After playing in Italy for Dinamo Basket Sassari during the NBA lockout,[17][18] he joined the Hawks for preseason in December 2011. After being waived by the Hawks,[19] he joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA Development League in January 2012.[20] On March 24, he signed a 10-day contract with the Golden State Warriors.[21] He appeared in three games for the Warriors.

2012–13 season

After spending preseason with the Atlanta Hawks,[22][23] Benson was acquired by the Erie BayHawks of the NBA D-League for the 2012–13 season.[24][25] In January 2013, he moved to the Philippines to play for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters during the 2013 PBA Commissioner's Cup.[26][27] He returned to the BayHawks in March 2013.

2013–14 season

Benson spent the 2013–14 season in Belarus with Tsmoki-Minsk. In May 2014, he joined the Shaanxi Wolves in the Chinese NBL.

2014–15 season

After initially signing with Turkish team Banvit,[28][29] Benson spent the first half of the 2014–15 season in Lithuania with Neptūnas.[30] In February 2015, he left Neptūnas and signed with Estonian team BC Kalev/Cramo.[31]

2015–16 season

After spending preseason with the Miami Heat,[32][33][34] Benson joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce for the 2015–16 season.[35] In February 2016, he played in the NBA D-League All-Star Game.[36] He helped the Skyforce finish with a league-best 40–10 record in 2015–16, and went on to help the team win the NBA D-League championship with a 2–1 Finals series win over the Los Angeles D-Fenders.[37]

2016–17 season

After spending a second straight preseason with the Miami Heat,[38][39] Benson once again played for the Sioux Falls Skyforce during the 2016–17 season.[40]

2017–18 season

In August and September 2017, Benson had a two-game stint with Guizhou in the Chinese NBL. He then began the 2017–18 season in Greece with Aris Thessaloniki, before joining Japanese team Osaka Evessa in January 2018.

2018–19 season

Benson's 2018–19 season was spent in Germany with Eisbären Bremerhaven.

2019–20 season

On August 1, 2019, Benson signed with the South East Melbourne Phoenix in Australia for the 2019–20 NBL season.[41] He parted ways with the Phoenix on January 4, 2020.[42] Days later, he signed with Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE National Basketball League.[43][44]

2020–21 season

On December 17, 2020, he signed with Rytas of the LKL.[45]

2021–22 season

On May 25, 2022, Keith Benson was drafted thirteenth overall by Enemies with their second round pick of the 2022 BIG3 draft.[46]

2022–23 season

On March 8, 2023, Taichung Suns registered Benson as import player.[47] On March 9, Benson signed with the Taichung Suns of the T1 League.[48]

Career statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

College
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2007–08 Oakland 292013.4.505.000.6673.5.1.21.45.2
2008–09 Oakland 363627.8.622.000.6677.8.7.62.414.3
2009–10 Oakland 353531.3.533.400.72410.5.8.43.317.3
2010–11 Oakland 353532.4.547.391.64310.11.1.83.617.9

Regular season
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2011–12 Golden State 303.0.000.000.0001.0.0.0.0.0
Career 303.0.000.000.0001.0.0.0.0.0

Personal

Benson's mother Janice Ellen Hale is a professor of early childhood education at Wayne State University and founding director of the Institute for the Study of the African American Child at Wayne State.[49]

References
  1. "34 Keith Benson". Oakland University. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  2. "Sports Unlimited » PBA Commissioner's Cup 2013 Imports". Sportsunli.com. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  3. "Keith Benson". basketball-reference.com. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
  4. Young, Justin (November 7, 2009). "Summit Preseason Player of the Year: Keith Benson". Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  5. Kampe, Paul (January 22, 2011). "MEN'S BASKETBALL: Dedication makes Keith Benson a pillar of Oakland hoops". The Oakland Press. Archived from the original on July 28, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  6. "Oakland Basketball Individual Career History BENSON, Keith" (PDF). Oakland University. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 8, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  7. Pemberton, Doug (February 21, 2009). "Hard work pays off for OU's Benson". Oakland Press. Archived from the original on February 28, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  8. "Benson Receives Lou Henson Award as Mid-Major Player of the Year". The Summit League. April 2, 2010. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  9. "Men's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). The Summit League. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  10. Snyder, Mark (April 15, 2010). "Oakland's Keith Benson enters NBA draft". Archived from the original on April 30, 2010. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  11. Kampe, Paul (April 30, 2010). "Thumb injury forces Oakland center Keith Benson to withdraw from NBA Draft". The Oakland Press. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  12. "Final undergraduate school and graduate school reports: Summer II, 2010-August 21, 2010" (PDF). Oakland University. December 9, 2010. p. 11. Retrieved October 3, 2014.
  13. "Oakland Ties League Win Streak Mark with Victory at South Dakota State". The Summit League. January 20, 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  14. "Men's Basketball Record Book" (PDF). The Summit League. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  15. "Keith Benson summary". Draft Express. Archived from the original on August 15, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  16. Beard, Ron (June 24, 2011). "U-M's Darius Morris, Oakland's Keith Benson go in Round 2 of NBA draft". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on June 24, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
  17. "Dinamo Sassari announces Keith Benson". sportando.com. August 18, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  18. "Dinamo Sassari officially replaces Keith Benson with Steven Hunter". sportando.com. October 30, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  19. Cunningham, Michael (December 23, 2011). "Atlanta Hawks: Hawks waive Sy, Wanamaker, Rolle (Update: Benson also released)". Blogs.ajc.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  20. "Skyforce Acquires Benson". Keloland.Com. January 26, 2012. Archived from the original on January 3, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
  21. "Warriors Sign Free Agent Center Keith Benson To 10-Day Contract". NBA.com. March 24, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  22. "Hawks add James Anderson, Keith Benson, Damion James, Carldell Johnson, Anthony Tolliver to training camp". Inside Hoops. September 27, 2012. Archived from the original on February 6, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  23. "Atlanta Hawks waive Keith Benson and Isma'il Muhammad". Inside Hoops. October 11, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  24. "Skyforce Announces 2012-13 Training Camp Invitees". NBA. October 31, 2012. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  25. "Skyforce Acquires Davis From BayHawks". NBA. November 5, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  26. Black hopes import works out for TNT
  27. Baguio, Nico (April 25, 2013). "Numerophilia Talk 'N Text and Ginebra clash in Comm. Cup semis". GMA News Online. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  28. "Banvit bags big man Benson". Eurocup.com. August 1, 2014. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2014.
  29. "Banvit adds Vladimir Dragicevic, parts ways with Keith Benson". Sportando.com. September 20, 2014. Retrieved September 20, 2014.
  30. "Neptunas lands big man Benson". Euroleague.net. October 31, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  31. "Keith Benson replaces Frank Elegar with Kalev/Cramo". Sportando.com. February 27, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  32. "HEAT Signs Keith Benson". NBA.com. August 25, 2015. Retrieved August 26, 2015.
  33. "HEAT Waive Five Players". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. October 24, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  34. Winderman, Ira (October 24, 2015). "Heat cut five, roster down to 15-player regular-season limit". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  35. "Skyforce Announces 2015-16 Training Camp Roster". OurSportsCentral.com. November 2, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  36. "Keith Benson and Quinn Cook Named as All-Star Replacements". NBA.com. February 5, 2016. Archived from the original on February 6, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  37. "Sioux Falls Skyforce Cap Historic Season with First NBA D-League". NBA.com. April 27, 2016. Archived from the original on April 28, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  38. "HEAT Signs Keith Benson". NBA.com. September 23, 2016. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  39. "HEAT Signs Luis Montero". NBA.com. October 18, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  40. "Skyforce Announce 2016 Training Camp Roster". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. November 1, 2016. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
  41. "Import Benson Completes South East Melbourne Phoenix Roster". NBL.com.au. August 1, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  42. "SEM Phoenix Part Ways With Keith Benson". NBL.com.au. January 4, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  43. "Keith Benson (ex SE M. Phoenix) is a newcomer at Shabab Al Ahli". asia-basket.com. January 6, 2020. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  44. Lupo, Nicola (January 6, 2020). "Keith Benson signs with Shabab Al Ahli". sportando.basketball. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  45. "Rytas tab Keith Benson, ex Shabab Al Ahli". Eurobasket. December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  46. "2022 BIG3 Draft Recap". BIG3. May 26, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
  47. "2023.03.08聯盟公告". T1 League (Press release). March 8, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  48. "太陽註銷艾倫有原因 找來的新洋將莫爾特里曾在CBA殺翻天". Liberty Times Net. March 9, 2023. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  49. "Janice Ellen Hale". Wayne State University College of Education. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
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