Is Anthony Bennett the return of Grandmama?

Anthony Bennett is tearing up the NCAA landscape right now and bring a lot of attention to the Vegas Strip with his high flying, fast running, three point shooting, run and gun game.  His game is reminiscent of another Runnin' Rebel named Larry Johnson that ran UNLV high powered offense to two NCAA Finals appearances and one national title 20 years before.  Can Ball Ray takes a look at to him is de ja vous in a red and white uniform with a different name ...

Anthony Bennett has been on nothing short of a tear since the start of the NCAA season.  There is no other way to put it.  He’s been in straight up beast mode and hasn’t been taking any prisoners. 

And really it shouldn’t surprise anyone. 

He is that talented a player that it almost seems like this was supposed to happen.  If you added to that he’s incredibly quick for a player that packs 230 pounds of high-flying muscle, it almost seems like it was preordained in some divine basketball journal.  Bennett for all intents and purposes looks like the popular candidate for Freshman of the Year in the NCAA and quite possibly maybe even an All America candidate.

Which got me to thinking, he really reminds me of one of my favorite college players of all time:  Larry Johnson.

That’s right, you heard me.  Bennett reminds me of Larry Demetric Johnson.  This in turn reminded me of what I thought when Bennett first announced that he was staying in the Vegas desert …

Is Anthony Bennett the second coming of LJ?

Now I’m not talking about the LJ that was in the NBA - the one that was picked first ahead of guys like Dikembe Mutombo and Greg Anthony and was Rookie of the Year and was eventually crippled by back problems.  I’m talking about the LJ that had the part, good tooth and dominated anyone that tried to guard him in college between 1990-92. 

I know that was over 20 years ago, 22 to be exact, and they are light years about in environments and eras but the two players are eerily similar in just about every way.

My opinion before the start of the season was sceptical and to be honest I was thinking possible but not likely. Bennett promptly flipped that idea on its ear and he’s looking more and more like the second coming.

Shall we compare?

Physically, Bennett stands (a listed) 6’8” and 240 pounds.  Johnson was listed at 6’7”,235.  They both have freakishly long wingspans (Bennett’s is 7’1”. They didn’t calculate that in LJ’s time but look at them arms dangle in pictures, pretty close.) And they are both extremely athletic players who have bodies suited football.  They both are big men with speed and quickness to play small.  They are both essentially power forward strength and small forward finesse in the body of an All Pro NFL strong safety.  Yikes!  If you stand them beside each other the only real difference between the two of them physically is LJ’s gold tooth and Bennett's many visible tattoos (different times I suppose).  

When you take a look at both their skill levels, they are quite similar there. Johnson was a guy that could play in the post, on the wing or out to the three. He could finish in traffic with power or with finesse.  He had a handle for player his size and he could also defend as well as block shots and shoot the passing lanes for steals.  Umm, I think the same would apply to Bennett wouldn't you agree?  I think that LJ would have a better post game than AB but Bennett may have a better three point shot.  Those are neither here nor there when the players are so similar.  The point is that they both have those skills to begin with.

Now we get to what people like to talk most about – stats. 

In his first nine games in playing for the revamped Runnin’ Rebels of UNLV, he’s done just about everything you could ask any player. As of Dec. 14, he’s averaging 20.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, an assist, 0.9 steals and 1.9blocks in 27.6 minutes per game.  Johnson by comparison, over the course of his junior season, averaged 20.6 points, 11.4boards, 2 dimes, 1.6 steals and 1.4 blocks in 31.5 minutes per.  There are obvious differences in the numbers but of course you get the point – they are pretty close to the point of weird.  They are almost mirrors of each other on those tearms.  

And to top off the comparison, you only need to check out both their highlight reels.  I’ve enclosed a couple of them here for you that I’ve marked accordingly.  Take your time and watch them a few times if need to.  I’ll wait …

Check out the Larry Johnson reel here and here (but you need to watch for #4 in the last one).  Check out Anthony Bennett's mixes here and here (the last one is long but recent when AB torched Cal). 

Now after all that, I don’t know about you but I’m beginning to think that the way Bennett is playing he’s looking more and more like LJ as a Runnin’ Rebel 2K12. 

I don’t want to get people too excited about anything other than AB is playing incredibly well. I know that he’s going to carve his own niche and name for himself in Vegas and will likely, if he stays more than one year, be added to the retired jerseys that include Johnson, Reggie Theus, Greg Anthony and current UNLV assistant coach Stacey Augmon.  Bennett will leave his own mark on the program.

But one thing is for sure, he’s already got the nation talking about him.   There is no doubt that whether or not he is the second coming of Larry Johnson, we will all be in for one hell of an exciting time night in and night out. 

I'm leaning on the second coming myself but that's just me.