Power forward in name only: Jack Benter's versatility an asset for top-ranked Purdue

Purdue’s Jack Benter isn’t your typical power forward.

He’s 6-foot-6, weighs 212 pounds, features a guard-heavy skill set and a soft perimeter shooting touch from every spot around the arc, similar to those 3-point showcase events. His profile screams shooting guard, point guard, and small forward, but Benter as a power forward takes a minute to digest.

But here is Benter, a power forward in Matt Painter’s scheme. Even the high school star from Brownstown Central needs a moment to wrap his mind around the new designation.

“I feel like growing up, I’ve always been a guard, but I feel like it’s a little different here,” Benter said. “I’m not a power forward but that’s what it’s labeled as, but we use it different here. Obviously, I never would’ve thought I would be a power forward.”

It’s purely a label, nothing more. The power forward at the college level today is different from the one a decade ago. There’s a striking difference between Purdue’s starting power forward, Trey Kaufman-Renn, and Benter, and what each can contribute at the position.

But that’s what makes it appealing, possibly giving the top-ranked Boilermakers an edge in certain matchups throughout the season.

Subscribe to GoldandBlack.com for the most complete coverage of Purdue

Painter and his coaching staff have a vision for Benter, who redshirted last season to begin the transition process. In high school, Benter played everywhere and had the ball in his hands most of the time, whereas at Purdue, he’s part of an offensive system and must pass, screen, and work within the framework to impact the game at both ends.

They’ll lean on his versatility and his guard skills to create mismatches on the offensive end. Defense is the biggest challenge for Benter, who will be undersized and face bigger, stronger players, especially in the Big Ten.

“I’m not going to be as tall as half the guys I’m guarding, but my knowledge has to be an asset,” Benter said. “I have to know what I’m doing, exactly what I’m doing, and put myself in a position to rebound. Rebounding is a big, big deal. When we’re playing small, we have to be able to rebound.”

Benter pulled down a combined 13 rebounds in the first two games.

“HE’S A BIG JACK BENTER FAN”

With Kaufman-Renn sidelined with a minor injury to start the season, Benter moved into the starting lineup.

Assistant coach P.J. Thompson’s phone was bombarded with messages from Dakota Mathias, considered one of the top do-everything players under Painter and in program history.

“I checked my phone at halftime of a game, and I see eight messages from Dakota Mathias,” said Thompson, who’s the program’s offensive coordinator. “And I’m like, ‘I know what this is about.’ Can’t wait to call him after the game. He’s a big Jack Benter fan. And if you guys remember watching Dakota, you know why.”

Mathias was also the name at the forefront of Paul Lusk’s mind during Benter’s recruiting process. He leaned on a variety of skills that tormented opponents and used his knowledge of the game to hold an advantage. Lusk also sees some comparisons between Benter and former Northwestern star Brooks Barnhizer.

“He had some Dakota Mathias in him as a guard, but he also got a little bit of Barnhizer in him,” Lusk said. “He’s not as tall, but I think the No. 1 thing that I thought was just the versatility of his offensive game. He’s a bigger guard, he can pass, he can really make good decisions, and he can shoot the basketball.

“He’s become a better driver. He’s just a versatile player. He came off a lot of pick-and-rolls in high school. He’s just one of those guys that I think you can put out there, and he can coexist with a lot of different other guys because of his skill set.”

More: The 3-2-1: Devin Mockobee appreciation edition | Three Thoughts From The Weekend: Purdue’s puzzle coming together, football uncertainty and more

The importance of redshirt season was crucial to Benter’s development at the college level.

He spent more time in the weight room, adding muscle to his frame. His weight fluctuated throughout the season. He practiced against the team’s power forwards and centers and continued to sharpen his offensive skills, including ballhandling and passing, at every opportunity.

Benter has worked on post defense, knowing the player he’s guarding is going to take him inside, and is figuring out how to battle through screens and deal with more physicality. He’ll need to provide backside help and recognize shooters to close out on the perimeter.

He’s prepared for this season after a steady diet of film work since arriving on campus after leading Brownstown Central to the 2024 Class 2A state championship.

It was a long wait between real games.

“It was weird being out there again, but it was also amazing,” Benter said of the Nov. 4 game against Evansville.

“HE’S A GUY THAT YOU HAVE TO GUARD”

Although the Boilermakers could’ve used Benter’s offensive contributions last season, his redshirt needed to stay intact. Plus, Benter needed additional time in the weight room and to adjust to what would be required from him in the future.

Lusk said the redshirt year “was really good for him in all areas,” but acknowledges he faces some disadvantages on the defensive end. However, Benter is physical enough to handle posts and is quick enough to switch on defense and guard different players.

“He’s getting better at keeping the ball in front of him, but I think where it really helps us is just playing him out there at that (power forward) spot,” Lusk said. “He’s a guard, but it just gives us a guy out there that’s got a lot of different offensive tools that can really be an advantage.”

And one advantage is spacing. Benter’s presence spreads the floor, creating driving lanes for himself and teammates. It’s difficult for defenders to stray too far from Benter because of his 3-point shooting.

“He’s a guy that you have to guard,” Lusk said. “Jack’s not going to post up, but he can get you on the mid post. I think his game will continue to evolve, and he’ll continue to show more and more. If you put a traditional (power forward) on him, you have to be concerned because he’s got those guard skills.”

GOLD AND BLACK RADIO: No. 1 Purdue heads to the Bahamas

Benter is an offensive tool at Thompson’s disposal. There’s a ton of value there.

The ability to play multiple positions and give the Boilermakers the option of playing “small ball” in certain situations can only be a benefit throughout the season.

“Some guys are so valuable that you have to get them on the court by any means,” Thompson said.

That’s how highly Thompson, Lusk, and the rest of the staff think of Benter. Granted, his minutes won’t be as robust compared to the first two games, where he played 22 and 29 minutes against Evansville and Oakland, filling in for Kaufman-Renn, who has posted back-to-back double doubles since his return.

He played a combined 19 minutes against Alabama and Akron, but it shouldn’t change the optimism that Benter can provide this season.

“I think in today’s game, the way the game is changing and evolving, I think having guys like Jack is important because he can play multiple positions,” Thompson said. “I think you need versatility on the basketball court, and so he brings a level of versatility for us that should be beneficial on both ends.”

No. 1 Purdue faces Memphis–Purduesports.com