Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

findlay prep :

Forward Anthony Bennett showing why colleges covet his services

UNLV among the 11 schools that have offered a scholarship to the Findlay Prep junior

Findlay Prep vs. Bishop Manogue

Findlay Prep vs. Bishop Manogue

Beyond the Sun

A two-play sequence was all it took Saturday to show that Findlay Prep junior power forward and UNLV recruit Anthony Bennett is worthy of the recruiting hype.

During the Pilots' 93-75 victory Saturday against Reno’s Bishop Manogue High at the South Point Arena, the 6-foot-8, 230-pound power forward elevated above the rim on consecutive plays for highlight-reel style dunks.

On the second play, an alley-oop in transition, he converted the basket despite being fouled, then went to the line and drained the foul shot to convert the three-point play.

Bennett finished with 13 points and six rebounds in 18 minutes, literally dominating the inside while on the court. In a true testament to his skill level, Bennett’s night included a perfect 7-for-7 effort from the free throw line.

“He was the difference in the game. We had no one who could guard him,” Bishop Manogue coach Bill Ballinger said. “He is as good without the ball in his hands as he is with it. That kid was just at a different level.”

Bennett, who is rated as a four-star prospect by recruiting website Rivals.com on its scale of five stars, has 11 scholarship offers, including ones from UNLV, Texas, West Virginia, Connecticut and Washington.

He hasn’t cut the list down to five schools for official visits but said he is more than considering UNLV.

“If I had a top five, UNLV would definitely be part of it,” Bennett said. “I like their style of play.”

Bennett missed six weeks early this season with a sprained knee and is still trying to get back into game shape. He just didn’t appear slowed Saturday night.

He scored six consecutive points in the second quarter to help Findlay build a 49-34 halftime advantage. Bennett’s accurate touch from the foul line, something he said he spends long hours working on, isn’t the lone weapon in his arsenal of skills that is attractive to college coaches.

Bennett is also a talented 3-point shooter and has the green light to attempt from the outside at any point of the game. For the season, which has been limited because of the injury, Bennett is shooting an impressive 74 percent from the field, including making 33 percent of his 3-pointers.

“He has the total package,” Findlay coach Mike Peck said. “With his size and skills, he can beat you so many ways.”

UNLV could be high on Bennett’s list because of his relationship with two players who have already committed to the program. Forward Grandy Glaze, who signed with UNLV in March, was Bennett’s teammate last summer on Team Takeover Canada.

Also, Findlay guard Nigel Williams-Goss verbally committed to UNLV this week and has expressed intentions of trying to bring other players with him.

“I’m going to play with him two more years here and hopefully we’ll get four more at UNLV,” said Williams-Goss, who led Findlay with 18 points on 9-of-10 shooting in 18 minutes. “I’m definitely going to be encouraging him to go to UNLV and continue what we started. But it’s his decision, and I’m going to support him no matter where he chooses.”

Bennett added, “(Williams-Goss) talks to me every now and then about UNLV.”

Findlay, which has won the last two ESPN Rise National High School Invitational Championships, improved to 16-1 on the season. The Pilots are ranked No. 5 nationally by USA Today.

Bishop Manogue, however, didn’t back down. The Reno private school, which trailed eventually state championship Bishop Gorman of Las Vegas by four points in the fourth quarter of last year’s state semifinals, connected on 13 of its 3-pointers.

Ethan Dillard had six 3-pointers and a game-high 30 points for the Miners, who are in the Las Vegas Valley to play early next week in Foothill’s holiday tournament.

“(Ballinger) does a good job over there. That’s a very solid team,” Peck said.

Still, Findlay picked up another convincing victory, opening the game on a 13-2 run and improving its record to 113-4 in the four years Peck has helmed the program.

It’s a major reason why Bennett left Mountain State Academy of West Virginia to join the Pilots this year. Last year, Findlay beat Mountain State 68-53 in the ESPN championships.

“That one year (2009) when they went 33-0 was just crazy. Nobody does that,” Bennett said.

St. John’s signee Amir Garrett added 13 points for Findlay, while 6-foot-9 junior center Landon Lucas added 14 points and nine rebounds.

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