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PROVIDENCE – When asked just when he sensed Ben Bentil would join Kris Dunn and be leaving his program early for the NBA Draft, Providence College coach Ed Cooley offered a surprising answer.
“Right after the North Carolina game,” Cooley said of the Friars’ second round NCAA Tournament defeat. “When you have a player emerge like (Bentil), with his background, you know it will be tough to keep him. You have to be in full support of that decision.”
Cooley certainly discussed alternative options with Bentil, his step-mother and other advisors but the coach could tell the 6-8 sophomore shooting forward’s mind was firm: he wanted to become a pro.