Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: Herd's Bennett is a favorite of teammates
10/9/2019 1:10:00 PM | Men's Basketball, Word on the Herd
Redshirt sophomore is ready for next step after playing in 16 games as a freshman
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Iran Jamal Bennett was born on July 8, 1997 in Concord, North Carolina. An offensive lineman before he discovered his love for basketball in the sixth grade, Bennett spends his off-the-court time around his teammates and friends – and after talking to his teammates, be sure that they fall into that latter category, too.
"That's one of my best friends on the team," said Jannson Williams, a junior on the Marshall men's basketball team. "We got really close when we were in the Bahamas (before the 2018-19 season)."
Williams lives in the same apartment complex as Bennett. Williams, who is from Newnan, Georgia, stays on the second floor and Bennett on the first. Every day, no matter what, Bennett visits Williams or Williams visits Bennett. For Williams, he's simply drawn to the 6-foot-9, 299-pound redshirt sophomore.
"He's got a charm to him," Williams said. "Very down to earth. Great teammate. He's got a lot of friends and a lot of people on his side, so I admire him for that."
This is the real Iran Bennett. Since he arrived on campus three seasons ago, he has had many stories written about him regarding one topic. Yes, there's less of Bennett these days, but there's more to him than that.
"He's one of the funniest guys you'll ever meet," said Jarrod West, a junior guard from Clarksburg, West Virginia. "He's a walking comedy show. Everything he does, he's just a funny guy. He's got a really good personality and is very positive. An uplifting, upbeat guy."
Bennett said that's how he's always been, even if his shenanigans drew the ire of his elementary school teachers. His objective: enjoy life. Â
"I've always been a little jokester," he said. "I love to have fun and cut up with my teammates and make them laugh."
Bennett might shield that side of him from the public, but it's there. His personality comes out when he's around his teammates – on flights, on long bus rides and in the locker room. That's where Bennett is the most comfortable.
He has two older brothers and one younger sister, and he bounced around North Carolina as a boy – Concord and Charlotte and Spencer. Football was his sport as a kid, and he starred as a right guard. Then, he picked up a basketball.
"I fell in love," Bennett said. "I was pretty good at football, but there was something about basketball. After middle school, I ended up not playing football anymore."
Good thing, too. He became a coveted recruit at Hargrave Military Academy, and drew the interest of Marshall men's basketball assistant coach Mark Cline. Once Bennett met the rest of the staff, including head coach Dan D'Antoni, he knew Marshall University was the best place for him to blossom from prospect to legitimate college basketball player and, maybe someday, an NBA player.
Bennett redshirted in 2017-18 and navigated an injury-filled freshman year last season, averaging 4.1 points per game and 2.8 rebounds in 16 games. He started seven games and averaged 12.7 minutes. But he is more prepared for the rigors of a college basketball season now. He develops every day. And, soon, fans will get to know more about the man his teammates call "a gentle giant."
"In my free time I'm either in here working on my game or I'm hanging out with my girlfriend and friends," Bennett said.
He loves comedy movies and Netflix shows. It's not unusual to see Bennett at Pullman Square catching the latest release at the theatres. At home, he devotes time to the NBA 2K series. The sports marketing major is interested in cars – especially the classics – and someday would like to own a dealership.
"I really like old cars," he said, "like the Chevy Nova."
Bennett's favorite TV show is "Power." When he visits the mall, he's on the hunt for shoes. His favorite rapper is DaBaby, in part because they're both from the Charlotte area.
"Once you're around him, it's hard to find when he's not in a good mood or not having a good day," West said. "Playing against Iran in AAU, I didn't know him, but I knew how forceful he was on the court. Then you get to know him and you see there's a whole different side to him."
Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and a seven-time winner of the National Sports Media Association West Virginia Sportswriter of the Year award. In addition to HerdZone.com's Word on the Herd, McGill is the editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated, Marshall's official athletics publication. Follow him on Twitter (@chuckmcgill) and Instagram (wordontheherd).
