The junior Oregon guard has decided that after he graduates this spring, he will transfer elsewhere and play out his remaining eligibility. An Oregon Ducks beat writer is reporting that Benson will head home to Phoenix and play for GCU, where his older brother is an assistant. It is believed that Benson is unhappy with the fact that he got benched in favor of freshman guard, Payton Pritchard. Benson shot 41.6 percent from three on the season and hit over 50 percent of his 3s during league play. KenPom also shows that he averages 1.3 points per possession during league play, which was the second highest average. My belief is that if Benson comes to GCU, Shaq Carr could be on the outs and he may come in as the starting point guard or he becomes the next Ryan Majerle and comes off the bench to be that 3 point spark off of the bench.

If Benson comes, it's not to be a 6th man. It seems too good to be true, so I'm hesitant to believe it just yet. Interestingly enough, he also has HS/AAU teammates still playing at UNM (MacDougall & Kuiper). If he is truly open to exploring all options, in an odd twist of fate, GCU will be recruiting toe to toe w/Weir for him.

I'm not nearly as impressed by Benson's as much as I am his ball handling. In 2015-16, I believe he started every game for the Ducks & led the nation in A/TO ratio. If he really is interested in coming to GCU, I could name a few players I'd be more than happy to send on their way. A wild card could be that he comes on as a nonscholarship player, much like Ryan Majerle was. It would be incredible, if it can be pulled off.

Again, I'm hesitant to get too hyped until something is official, but the dots aren't hard to connect. Throw in Havocs giving him a sample during the Final Four by chanting his name during the game & we just might be talking about GCU having a chance.

(04-13-2017 03:53 AM)gleadley Wrote:  If Benson comes, it's not to be a 6th man. It seems too good to be true, so I'm hesitant to believe it just yet. Interestingly enough, he also has HS/AAU teammates still playing at UNM (MacDougall & Kuiper). If he is truly open to exploring all options, in an odd twist of fate, GCU will be recruiting toe to toe w/Weir for him.

I'm not nearly as impressed by Benson's as much as I am his ball handling. In 2015-16, I believe he started every game for the Ducks & led the nation in A/TO ratio. If he really is interested in coming to GCU, I could name a few players I'd be more than happy to send on their way. A wild card could be that he comes on as a nonscholarship player, much like Ryan Majerle was. It would be incredible, if it can be pulled off.

Again, I'm hesitant to get too hyped until something is official, but the dots aren't hard to connect. Throw in Havocs giving him a sample during the Final Four by chanting his name during the game & we just might be talking about GCU having a chance.

I think we have a legit shot at him due to the fact that he is from Phoenix and it means he could play in front of his family (which he was looking forward to doing in the Final Four), he and his older brother have a close relationship, and he could go down in Grand Canyon lore much like Ryan and Grandy if he were to come here and lead us to the tournament. I probably have a long list of players I would be more than willing to send packing too, but the first one that came to mind was Shaq because he was in line to take the starting job; however, I don't know if coach trusts him enough to hand him the reigns in the teams first tournament eligible season and next year would be his senior season, so unless he RS, it doesn't make too much sense for him stay around.

Wasn't Benson the one that couldn't hit the side of a barn in the game vs. North Carolina?

(04-13-2017 01:10 PM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  Wasn't Benson the one that couldn't hit the side of a barn in the game vs. North Carolina?

Not him. Benson went 1-2 from 3PT w/3 boards & an assist v. UNC. He's a smart PG who doesn't turn the ball over often. Contrasted against Carr, who is a turnover machine, I'd feel better with Benson running the floor while Aidoo & Milstead learn.

(04-13-2017 01:28 PM)gleadley Wrote:  

(04-13-2017 01:10 PM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  Wasn't Benson the one that couldn't hit the side of a barn in the game vs. North Carolina?

Not him. Benson went 1-2 from 3PT w/3 boards & an assist v. UNC. He's a smart PG who doesn't turn the ball over often. Contrasted against Carr, who is a turnover machine, I'd feel better with Benson running the floor while Aidoo & Milstead learn.

Yeah it was basically everyone in the starting five except for Bell who couldn't hit the side of a barn in the game.

If you do get him a GCU title could happen unfortunately. The conference is gonna be so fun to watch next year.

(04-13-2017 02:19 PM)Clarity Wrote:  If you do get him a GCU title could happen unfortunately. The conference is gonna be so fun to watch next year.

And many more to come. If they can pull in Benson-caliber names, and with the schools they beat out for recruits this year, GCU is going to be one of the best mid majors out there very soon. No longer being ineligible for the post season is doing wonders in recruiting

(04-13-2017 02:38 PM)SeattleVandals Wrote:  

(04-13-2017 02:19 PM)Clarity Wrote:  If you do get him a GCU title could happen unfortunately. The conference is gonna be so fun to watch next year.

And many more to come. If they can pull in Benson-caliber names, and with the schools they beat out for recruits this year, GCU is going to be one of the best mid majors out there very soon. No longer being ineligible for the post season is doing wonders in recruiting

But this is what the program has been building towards. It would be nice if we could start beating out high majors who are slightly better than the ones we have, but it is definitely a good feeling to be beating out high majors for guys.

I was doing a little Twitter searching to see if there was any update on Casey Benson's status and came across this golden tweet.

So Casey Benson told ESPN that he is still open to receiving offers from any school that is interested. I would likely put the two front runners as GCU and UNM just due to the connections that he has at those two schools (A couple of guys that Benson used to play with are at UNM and the GCU connection is well documented). In his initial recruitment, both GCU and UNM talked to Benson, but GCU never offered him a scholarship, likely cause they knew they had no shot at him and they had just brought DeWayne in. It is unlikely that he transfers to a different PAC-12 school, so of the schools that initial tried to recruit him: Boise, Saint Mary's, Gonzaga, Boston College, San Fran, Rice, Creighton, and Nebraska are the only remaining schools that may still be open to taking him in. Gonzaga probably has the best shot (of the rest of the pack) due to the opening that Nigel Williams-Goss just left a massive hole at the point guard position for Few up in Spokane. There could also be new suitors that just have not revealed themselves yet, but that remains to be seen. The impatient side of me would like to see Benson commit to a school already, but at the same time, I understand that it can take guys time to decide on where they will be headed.

I don't see Benson going to GCU. It would be a huge get. I also read that Cheatham from San Diego State may transfer to GCU.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&...bhjPzjsVmg

I honestly don't know if I would want him. We already have are double-double guy in Keonta and we don't need another big who is inconsistent in his play. Plus that would mean three scholarship players would have to transfer from the program and I don't really see that happening

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I'd take Cheatham in a second. He's boys with DeWayne Russell, I believe. We have Tay, but he graduates in 2018. Zy wouldn't be eligible to play until 2018-19 after sitting a year. He could pick up right where Tay leaves off.

(04-19-2017 03:16 PM)gleadley Wrote:  I'd take Cheatham in a second. He's boys with DeWayne Russell, I believe. We have Tay, but he graduates in 2018. Zy wouldn't be eligible to play until 2018-19 after sitting a year. He could pick up right where Tay leaves off.

Oh yeah I kinda forgot about that. I am just afraid that Cheatham's inconsistency is going to follow him to GCU and we already have enough of that. However, if he was able to find that consistency that made him a 4 star recruit, I would welcome him with open arms. Plus I'm sure his family loved seeing him play at the arena this past year and would love to watch him on a consistent basis. The biggest thing is that we just don't have the room right now since we are already over the scholarship cap and I can't see three guys transferring from the program.

Also, you'd be giving up a scholarship for 2 years for only 1 year of play. I'd pass on Cheatham unless you know you can get that Medical Hardship and get the year back.

I think Benson to GCU is a done deal. Neither of the two Bigs Lever and Blumbergs have been announced as signing LOI. I think GCU is waiting to move the two players before they announce the three signings.

(04-19-2017 04:12 PM)ThunderDan49 Wrote:  

(04-19-2017 03:16 PM)gleadley Wrote:  I'd take Cheatham in a second. He's boys with DeWayne Russell, I believe. We have Tay, but he graduates in 2018. Zy wouldn't be eligible to play until 2018-19 after sitting a year. He could pick up right where Tay leaves off.

Oh yeah I kinda forgot about that. I am just afraid that Cheatham's inconsistency is going to follow him to GCU and we already have enough of that. However, if he was able to find that consistency that made him a 4 star recruit, I would welcome him with open arms. Plus I'm sure his family loved seeing him play at the arena this past year and would love to watch him on a consistent basis. The biggest thing is that we just don't have the room right now since we are already over the scholarship cap and I can't see three guys transferring from the program.

(04-19-2017 08:00 PM)LopesUp Wrote:  Also, you'd be giving up a scholarship for 2 years for only 1 year of play. I'd pass on Cheatham unless you know you can get that Medical Hardship and get the year back.

I think Benson to GCU is a done deal. Neither of the two Bigs Lever and Blumbergs have been announced as signing LOI. I think GCU is waiting to move the two players before they announce the three signings.

(04-19-2017 04:12 PM)ThunderDan49 Wrote:  

(04-19-2017 03:16 PM)gleadley Wrote:  I'd take Cheatham in a second. He's boys with DeWayne Russell, I believe. We have Tay, but he graduates in 2018. Zy wouldn't be eligible to play until 2018-19 after sitting a year. He could pick up right where Tay leaves off.

Oh yeah I kinda forgot about that. I am just afraid that Cheatham's inconsistency is going to follow him to GCU and we already have enough of that. However, if he was able to find that consistency that made him a 4 star recruit, I would welcome him with open arms. Plus I'm sure his family loved seeing him play at the arena this past year and would love to watch him on a consistent basis. The biggest thing is that we just don't have the room right now since we are already over the scholarship cap and I can't see three guys transferring from the program.

It's the NCAA, so nothing is logical or certain. However, Cheatham was injured prior to his freshman season and played in no games that year. A hardship waiver for a season lost to injury seems pretty straight forward. If so, my count says 2 years eligible after sitting 2017-18.

The tricky part is I don't believe you can apply for hardship waiver, regardless of when the season was lost, until the start of your final season. If I am remembering that correctly, any school bringing him in would be rolling the dice on whether they get 1 or 2 years of eligibility from him.

Article today on Cheatham

Reading this made me realize he isn't some homesick kid looking to play closer to home. That would REALLY tip the scales toward GCU or ASU, giving both fan bases reason to get excited. No, this is a kid looking to get paid in the League.

While GCU's staff and program (i.e. Mr. Colangelo) have NBA connections in spades, there is obviously no proven path to the League that runs through West Phoenix. It also seems like Zy has an idea about the style of play that best suits his game. Those things make me much less certain that GCU will land him.

Honestly, that might not be a bad thing. I think Majerle wants team first guys. We saw it in 2015-16, when he asked DeWayne to be more of a distributor than scorer. We've also seen "me first" guys flame out under Majerle. I'll let you fill in the names. If Zy can find a coach who has or is willing to shape a program around his strengths, that's where he should go.

I just see Majerle being straight up in telling him that we do what is best for the team first. Not the ambitions of individuals. If Cheatham can buy into that, then welcome to GCU.

(04-19-2017 11:46 PM)gleadley Wrote:  Article today on Cheatham

Reading this made me realize he isn't some homesick kid looking to play closer to home. That would REALLY tip the scales toward GCU or ASU, giving both fan bases reason to get excited. No, this is a kid looking to get paid in the League.

While GCU's staff and program (i.e. Mr. Colangelo) have NBA connections in spades, there is obviously no proven path to the League that runs through West Phoenix. It also seems like Zy has an idea about the style of play that best suits his game. Those things make me much less certain that GCU will land him.

Honestly, that might not be a bad thing. I think Majerle wants team first guys. We saw it in 2015-16, when he asked DeWayne to be more of a distributor than scorer. We've also seen "me first" guys flame out under Majerle. I'll let you fill in the names. If Zy can find a coach who has or is willing to shape a program around his strengths, that's where he should go.

I just see Majerle being straight up in telling him that we do what is best for the team first. Not the ambitions of individuals. If Cheatham can buy into that, then welcome to GCU.

I can think of one "me first" player who lasted a semester on the court and I honestly couldn't stand him (Dominic McGee). A lot of times, those types of players take terrible shots on a regular basis and it just throws off the whole team.