For PC’s Bentil: Go big or go home
PC standout opts to stay in NBA Draft Sunday afternoon
Coming off of a breakthrough sophomore season with the Friars, Providence hoop standout Ben Bentil will roll the dice at the NBA Draft.
PROVIDENCE – As Ben Bentil prepared to make his final descent onto a runway of personal preference, the Providence College forward did so strengthened by a frequent-flyer program that’s completely within the realm of the NBA’s new “test the waters” protocol.
From working out in person for several pro teams to putting his best foot forward at the NBA draft combine held earlier this month, Bentil got plenty of mileage out of an unfettered process that was specifically tailored for college basketball underclassmen; seeing what teams think about you, albeit without the services of an agent.
On Sunday night, Bentil officially closed the books on his time at Providence. His goodbye came in the form of a message on his Instagram account.
Bentil’s decision to remain in the NBA draft caps off a whirlwind experience that commenced the moment he sat down with Joe Nicastro – PC’s associate athletic director in charge of compliance – to draft a letter that would be sent to the office of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
Given the unchartered territory that awaited Bentil, there seemed a lot of moving parts to take under advisement. Who pays for Bentil’s travel expenses? How are workouts scheduled since he did not retain outside representation?
All fair questions, and ones that have largely gone unanswered on the national level. With Bentil’s unique position, it was incumbent for Nicastro to go over the particulars with a finetoothed comb.
Since March 28, the day the aforementioned letter was sent off to NBA headquarters – it included specific language that Bentil won’t hire an agent or any form of advisor or representation, therefore maintaining his eligibility should he return to PC for his junior year – Nicastro has been the main conduit between Bentil and the NBA world that has allowed the youngster to get some real feedback and an evaluation of where he stands. If something’s gone on, the odds are pretty good it crossed Nicastro’s desk.
“After the letter, the communication between Ben and the NBA was via me,” said Nicastro, now in his sixth year as Providence’s head of compliance. “Effectively, I was kind of serving in the role of an agent.”
Sitting in his Alumni Hall office one day last week, Nicastro summarized what the past two months have been like from his vantage point. He did mention that Bentil could have hired a consulting company that was neither agentbased nor someone looking to market his athletic ability. If such a scenario proved the case, PC would have been heavily involved.
“There’s still some gray area there so we advised him to stay away from that,” said Nicastro.
Bentil applied for an evaluation by the NBA’s undergraduate advisory committee. It’s totally separate and independent from what a prospect is told at the draft combine. Once Bentil received an invite to the combine, Nicastro relayed that he would be in Chicago with the rest of the 2016 draft hopefuls.
The NBA, not Providence College, picked up the tab for Bentil’s flight and hotel accommodations in the Windy City.
“The NBA can pay for all of what’s called actual unnecessary expenses … meals, lodging, all that stuff,” said Nicastro.
The first NBA teams to contact Nicastro on Bentil’s behalf were Minnesota and Memphis. When significant interest began emerging for the first team Big East selection, it was decided that someone from the Friar basketball staff should join Nicastro in keeping close tabs on Bentil’s whereabouts. That responsibility fell to assistant coach Brian Blaney.
The NBA/NCAA rule, which was enacted in January, allowed Bentil to go on one 48-hour tryout per NBA team. Just like the combine, the team whose curiosity in Bentil was piqued paid for everything.
Missing class to attend a tryout in a NBA city was frowned upon under the rules, though Bentil did have free rein to schedule appointments on weekends before completing finals. The visit he took to New Orleans came on the weekend before semester’s end. On Friday, May 6, Bentil took a final in the morning before flying to Minnesota.
“He didn’t miss class or finals,” Nicastro noted.
In checking over Bentil’s itinerary with the Timberwolves, Nicastro voiced to team personnel that it was perfectly fine for the second-year Friar to wear Minnesota practice gear during the tryout. When the session is done, that gear had better be in the laundry basket and not found in Bentil’s suitcase. It seems like an obvious no-brainer, yet all it takes is one false move to lower the curtain on the luxury Bentil was afforded.
“It’s an extra benefit,” said Nicastro. “I told Ben that if he ever had any questions, he knew where to find me.”
Bentil’s fifth workout with a NBA team comes today with the Indiana Pacers, who own two picks in this year’s draft, the 20th and 50th overall selections. He will go about his business as a tried-and-true draft candidate, not as someone who still holds the option to return to Providence for his junior season.
“I hope he comes back. If he doesn’t, I hope he lands in a good spot,” said Nicastro prior to Sunday’s announcement.
Looking back, Bentil was able to see and hear firsthand what the NBA community thinks of him. If that was the goal under this particular piece of NCAA legislation, count Nicastro as a firm backer.
“To be honest, it’s been a fun process,” says Nicastro. “It’s new to me and obviously new to everyone, but Ben’s a good kid. He wants to do things the right way. I know him pretty well because I was involved with his eligibility issue coming out of high school. He and I have a good relationship so that made it easier.”