Josh Benson Class: RS Junior Hometown: Dayton, OH High School: Dunbar Height / Weight: 6-9 / 223 Position: F/C

Josh Benson's length, quickness and ability to put the ball on the floor pose matchup problems for Flyer opponents. One of those players whose late growth spurt moved him to the frontcourt, Benson was a guard growing up and handles the ball well for a big man.

He also has a quick (and long) first step, which makes him a threat to get to rim every time he touches the ball.

Young for his age in his graduating class coming out of high school, Benson made the most of torn labrum as a freshman, having surgery to stabilize the shoulder and using his rebab time to get stronger and develop his left hand.

As a young forward playing behind Chris Wright and Chris Johnson, Benson will also likely see time at the five spot in 2010-11.

2010-11 Josh Benson's development helped him take over the starting center role mid-way through the season. Benson would not disappoint as he averaged 5.6 points and 3.5 rebounds while playing 17.9 minutes per game. For the season, Benson played all in 36 games, including 13 starts, while scoring 200 points and hauling in 127 rebounds in 643 minutes of action. He finished with the best field goal percentage on the Flyers as he shot .548 (80-146).

At Ole Miss, Benson scored 10 points while connecting on 5-of-8 shots and hauled in five rebounds. Against Cincinnati, he set career-highs for rebounds (9), steals (2), and minutes (29). At home against Western Carolina, Benson netted eight points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field.

At Xavier, he scored 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field and hauled in four rebounds. This started a stretch of six games where Benson averaged 9.3 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. Against Fordham, Benson netted 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting and snagged eight rebounds. At Duquesne, he scored 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting and hauled in four rebounds. Following the Duquesne game, Benson scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds against both St. Bonaventure and La Salle.

In the home match-up with Duquesne, he netted eight points and pulled down six rebounds. At home against Xavier, Benson tallied seven points on 3-of-5 shooting and swatted a career-high two blocks. Against Saint Louis, he scored a career-high 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the field. At George Washington, Benson netted 10 points and hauled in seven rebounds.

2009-10 Josh Benson played in 35 games in his first season for the Flyers with averages of 2.4 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. Benson totaled 85 points and grabbed 62 rebounds for the season while displaying rare athleticism and mobility for a big man. He played 283 minutes (8.1 per game) and ranked fifth on the team with a field goal percentage of .493 (35-of-71). In the win at rival Miami, Benson scored four points and grabbed a rebound. He scored a career-high 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting, hauled in seven rebounds and had two steals in the win over Presbyterian. In the following game against Appalachian State,he scored four points and grabbed a career-high eight rebounds. He had seven points on 3-of-3 shooting from the foul line, and two assists against Boston. In the road match-up against Xavier, Benson tallied eight points and dished out a career-high three assists. At Saint Louis, he netted five points and grabbed four rebounds. He had nine points on 3-of-5 shooting against La Salle. In the home match-up with Saint Louis, Benson scored four points and hauled in five rebounds.

2008-09 Benson suffered a torn right labrum in early November and redshirted the 2008-09 season.

High School Benson had the luxury of playing for the powerful Dunbar Wolverine program. Dunbar is one of the few schools in Ohio that generally has had an abundance of big men in the program, which meant as a younger player he was challenged by bigger and stronger players in his own program on a daily basis.

That situation paid dividends when as a junior, Benson came through in the 2007 OHSAA Division II championship game. He scored 16 points and was named MVP of the game as Dunbar won its second straight state title.

For the year, he averaged 9.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks and was named Third Team All-Ohio.

After his final season at Dunbar, Benson was named to the AP Ohio Division II First Team and also picked up Southwest District Player of the Year honors. He was rated No. 31 amongst power forwards in his class by ESPN.com. while leading Dunbar to its second straight state championship. olverine program. Dunbar is one of the few schools in Ohio that generally has had an abundance of big men in the program, which meant as a younger player he was challenged by bigger and stronger players in his own program on a daily basis.

That situation paid dividends when as a junior, Benson came through in the 2007 OHSAA Division II championship game. He scored 16 points and was named MVP of the game as Dunbar won its second straight state title.

For the year, he averaged 9.1 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks and was named Third Team All-Ohio.

After his final season at Dunbar, Benson was named to the AP Ohio Division II First Team and also picked up Southwest District Player of the Year honors. He was rated No. 31 amongst power forwards in his class by ESPN.com. while leading Dunbar to its second straight state championship.

Personal Data Full Name: Joshua Allen Benson Nickname: Josh Son of: Willie and Marilyn Benson Siblings: Jermaine (22) and Melloni (24) Birthday: February 21, 1990 Major: General Studies High School Coach: Peter Pullen AAU Team: Dayton Metro Career Goal: Go to the NBA and get into the field of coaching Why I Chose UD: UD is a great place to be and to play. Also it is a place where I can grow and mature as a young man.

Dayton Career Highs Points: 10, Presbyterian (12/19/09) Rebounds: 8, Appalachian State (12/21/09) Assists: 3, at Xavier (1/16/10) Steals: 2, Presbyterian (12/19/09) FGs Made: 5, Presbyterian (12/19/09) Blocks: 1, Four Times FT Made: 3, Boston U (12/29/09); La Salle (2/18/10) Minutes: 23, Presbyterian (12/19/09); App. State (12/21/09)

Flyer 44's... Junior Norris (1950-51), George Woywood (1951-52), Bob Sullivan (1964-65), Allen Elijah (1972-75), Tim Pohlman (1976-80), Tim Robbe (1982-83), Dave Colbert (1984-86), Troy McCracken (1986-90), Andrew Gaydosh (1990-94), Matt Cooper (1996-2000), Jason Osborne (2001-02), James Cripe (2003-06)