Up until his junior year at Northside High School in Lafayette, Louisiana, Dwayne Benjamin was a football player. He was a good one, too, drawing interest from LSU head coach Les Miles at one point. Benjamin undoubtedly had the intangibles to make serious strides on the gridiron as a standout wide receiver.
But as he headed into his senior year, he made a life altering decision.
Instead of pursuing a promising career on the turf, Benjamin hung up his cleats and traded them in for a pair of basketball shoes. Even with all the hype. Even with all the talent. Even with a sky full of potential, Benjamin decided to call it quits. After years of taking what he considered to be cheap shots below the knees and taking multiple trips to the hospital for them, Benjamin had an epiphany: maybe, this sport just wasn’t for him.
This is where Benjamin dedicated his life to basketball.
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“Nanny, I want to be somebody.”
This is what Benjamin told his godmother Barbara Garrick, who had been his primary caretaker growing up. Even then, she believed in him. She, however, also knew that he was going to need a lot of help and focus. She simply knew it was going to take some time and patience. Barbara knew Benjamin had some growing up to do.
Benjamin, the youngest of four brothers, lost his dad when he was around one year old. He also struggled academically throughout his life and it almost cost him his future. Without the help of older brothers, family members and coaches, this story may never have been written.
Benjamin always kept busy playing sports. Before he quit football, Benjamin ran track and played basketball. He knew he had god given talent. His athletic ability and keen understanding of the game just weren’t things that could be taught. But anyone that knew him also understood that there was a level of maturity that he had yet to reach, which held him back.
Whatever it was, Benjamin and his peers felt like there was something missing, a chapter of his life that had yet to be played out.
“He knew (how good he was) because he played with so many talented players in Louisiana,” Patrick Springer, who coached Benjamin at Mt. San Jacinto Community College, said. “But he needed a road map to get there. To his credit, he listened and he processed the things that everybody in his circle gave him.”
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After failing to meet the academic requirements for the University of Texas at El Paso, the school Benjamin had initially committed to out of high school, he opted to attend Mt. San Jacinto College in San Jacinto, California.
“I believe it helped me grow up,” Benjamin said about attending junior college. “A lot of people don’t think JC has a lot of competition, but I got to play against a lot of guys who are (now) playing at the Division I level.”
When Benjamin arrived to California, he was an unproven talent from the complete opposite side of the country. He was scared. He was uncertain of what to expect. But he also understood he had a pool of untapped potential. Benjamin knew he could adapt and thrive with hard work and focus.
Two years later, Mt. San Jacinto College made consecutive regional final appearances and Benjamin was considered arguably the best player to come through the school since longtime NBA player Jamal Tinsley.
“We got guys play at Cincinnati, Memphis, Tennessee and Kansas State, we’ve had them all over,” Springer said. “Dwayne is potentially the best of that group. Probably the best since Jamal Tinsley for sure.”
Benjamin eventually completed his two years and received his Associate Degree. This was surprising for some involved with the program. The fact that Benjamin stuck with the program for two years was impressive to them. He had become one of the few members of his family to attend college along with his older brother.
Benjamin figured out what he had to do in order to become the best student-athlete while playing for the Eagles. It was a necessary step in the right direction.
“Nobody is surprised by his talent, that he made it to the four-year level, ” Springer said. “The biggest thing is the fact that he stayed here for two years and did the work that he needed to do. Probably surprises most people.”
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It didn’t take long for Benjamin to get acclimated to the University of Oregon. With his vibrant smile and contagious personality, Benjamin immediately made his presence known on the court. Sure, it took some time for him to adjust to another level of basketball, but there were consistent glimpses of a bright future.
A big reason why Benjamin chose Oregon over others was due to the longtime relationship between Dana Altman and Springer, who is currently the Dean at Mt. San Jacinto Community College. Their relationship dates back to Altman’s time with Creighton. Both coaches discussed Benjamin’s future and believed he could thrive as a Duck.
In retrospect, the mutual trust appears to have paid off.
Physical and athletic, Benjamin has become a vital part of Altman’s rotation. At his best, Benjamin is knocking down open jumpers, finishing strong at the rim and crashing the glass. He did all that against Washington State back in early February, scoring a season-high 25 points on 10-11 shooting.
In the final three games of the regular season, Benjamin averaged 15 points off the bench and hit a critical three-pointer against Oregon State in a tight contest in the season ending Civil War  game.
“We liked his talent,” Altman said. “The thing about him is he’s got such a high ceiling. He can get so much better if he focuses in the offseason and puts the time in. With his skill level and athleticism, it’s a great balance. I think he could be a really good player.”
Benjamin’s goals are nothing short of playing in the NBA. If he continues to improve, the senior may just achieve them. It’s hard to tell if a player can make the final leap to the big leagues and Benjamin understands that. But just when you’re about to doubt him or cut him short, take one look at the excitement on Benjamin’s face when he’s in the zone, when he’s making the game look easy. Benjamin smiles because he knows how fortunate he is to be in the position for long-term success. He smiles because he’s simply happy to play basketball in the Pac-12.
It’s been over three years since Benjamin took a leap of faith and converted his life to basketball. And for every year that continues to pass, in which Benjamin excels in the classroom and court, he has one more thing to smile about.
“I’m amazed at him every time he comes home,” Barbara said. “His personality has grown up, he’s more independent…he has changed a whole lot for the good. And by watching his interview (recently), the way he spoke, I was amazed. He’s surprised us all.”
Follow Hayden Kim on Twitter @HayDayKim