Benjamin is shooting for a preseason victory

Sporting News, The, Oct 28, 1996 by Mike DeCourcy

Corey Benjamin is on the court and, quite frequently, several feet above it. This is the best news of the new season. Instead of being marooned in Oregon State intramurals games, playing against Biff and the boys from Delta House, he'll get to play for real.

But because Benjamin achieved the minimum standardized test score for freshman eligibility on a date not sanctioned by the NCAA, he can be approved for competition only by winning an appeal. With his score, however, he earned at least "partial qualifier" status, which means he can practice with the team.

Benjamin's ticket to play this season with the Beavers remained in a pile of elibility appeals facing the NCAA last week. Whatever the NCAA's verdict, Benjamin, a 6-6 guard who can leap, score in bunches and may be OSU's best player since Gary Payton, won't have to sit out to practice this season.

"If these kids do what they're supposed to do and demonstrate some abilities, they ought to be rewarded," Oregon State coach Eddie Payne says. "The NCAA doesn't have to be punitive in its decisions. They ought to do what's right for the kids."

This fall has seen a number of prospects claim some degree of victory in the quest to become eligible. Mark Dickel, a freshman from Australia, won an appeal last week that permits him to compete for the starting pointguard spot at UNLV. Shooting guard Glendon Alexander, a McDonald's All-American from Carrollton, Texas, was ready to sue the NCAA when its Eligibility Clearinghouse challenged one of his high scholl classes. But he was given the OK to play at Arkansas when a half-credit discovered that allowed him to meet eligibility standards.

Forward Larry Abney, another Clearinghouse target, settled his court case with the NCAA in exchange for the right to play one season in junior college and three in Division I, presumably at Fresno State, and to keep the sholarship money he receives last year at that school.

"The merits of Corey's case--to me, it's a no-brainer," Payne says. "The track record of the NCAA is not very judicious in that regard, but it does seem to be turning. It seems like the trend is more student-athlete-friendly."

At Fontana (Calif.) High, Benjamin was considered one of six best players in the nation last season. The consensus high school All-American entered the summer before his senior year as well-regarded, but occasionally underwhelming, wing prospect, then dominated the Nike All-American Camp with his long-range accuracy and acrobatic play.

Oregon State was the improbable winner in his recruitment because of its willingness to sign him regardless of his eligibility situation and because Corey's brother, Sonny, is a forward with the Beavers. OSU finished last season--Payne's first attempts to rebuild a once-proud program--with a 4-23 record. Corey Benjamin is one of 10 new players on the roster and, if he can participate, easily the most important.

"His brother sold the program. I know that was a huge credibility advantage," Payne says. He believes Corey's eligibility could make a "significant" difference. "Whatever or not that translates into six or seven more wins, I don't know. I think it would make a difference in our ability to compete, the problems we would create for other people.

"He's one of those guys that does so many things you can't coach that he's different to coach. He can do a lot of things wrong and still be effective. ... Everything can go to pot on a possession, and he can just take the ball and get you a bucket."

Parting Shots

One of the few recent losers in the eligibility derby is Southern Mississippi recruit Vandarel Jones, a powerful 6-9 center from Indianola, Miss. He was deemed to be lacking sufficient core credits. ... Penn State point guard Dan Earl, who averaged 11.7 points and 5.4 assists in 1995-96, is struggling with an injured back that could affect his senior year. ... Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson greeted the press at the Razorbacks' media day with a rambling diatribe that included this statement: "There are some of you that I don't like. I don't hate any of you." Richardson was upset some reportes had written that two Arkansas players were caught in the offseason smoking marijuana in a case later dismissed. Richardson said the police report did not state former Hogs guard Marlon Tows and sophomore Kareem Reid were seen smoking.

Mike DeCourcy covers college basketball for the Commercial Appeal in Memphis. E-mail him at tsnmike@aol.com and see his responses on our AOL site (keyword: TSN).