How Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk wants to be remembered as basketball journey nears end

Every time Benjamin Bosmans-Verdonk checks into a game, you know exactly what you’re going to get from him. He’ll occasionally score a few points, but that’s never been his calling card, not at any point throughout his time in college.

Only averaging 1.6 points in his six-year career, Bosmans-Verdonk is what you might call an enforcer. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty and make the tough plays. There’s no better example of this than when he gave an all-out effort to block a shot late in the game against Auburn earlier this season.

With South Carolina leading by a point with five minutes remaining in the second half, Auburn guard Denver Jones had an open lane to drive to the basket. But crashing inside towards him was Bosmans-Verdonk, who stuck both of his arms up to block Jones’ shot and body him to the floor.

Standing right over top of Jones, who laid flat on the court, Bosmans-Verdonk took off his facemask and looked on. He considers this to be his favorite play that he’s made since it sent Gamecock fans into a frenzy. But it also epitomizes what he’s all about.

“My facemask got smacked off a little bit, and so I took it off,” he said. “That was a cool moment that people liked. So I liked that. That was cool.”

In his time at South Carolina, Bosmans-Verdonk has never been a huge minutes eater. He started 14 games and played nearly 15 minutes per game in his first season with the team after transferring from Illinois. Over the last two years, he’s averaged less than 10 minutes of floor time.

Stay on top of all things Gamecocks for just $1 for 7 days—lock in this special offer today!

That’s not something that he gets discouraged by, though. He understands there are other and more talented players on the team who garner more playing time. But when he gets his chance to be out there, he just wants to give his best effort and nothing less.

“For where I’m at right now in life, as well as basketball, I think my strength is being able to uplift other people, and I feel like I took that role kind of the heart whenever I was in there,” Bosmans-Verdonk said.

“I just wanted to be a little spark of energy and give our guys a little push wherever I could provide. I mean, my teammates are super talented. For me, it was just about figuring out how I can contribute to what they’re doing.”

By doing just that, it’s worked out well for him and the rest of the team. He may not play a ton, but when he does get action, he makes the most of his opportunity.

As Bosmans-Verdonk enters the last days of his college career, he knows the end is in sight. He’s already gone through Senior Night ceremonies and now will get ready for the SEC Tournament as South Carolina faces Arkansas.

If the Gamecocks lose on Wednesday, it will mark the end of a long, disappointing season without an NCAA Tournament appearance after plenty of success last year. When the final game comes and goes, Bosmans-Verdonk will shift his focus to the next phase of his life. He’s already accepted a full-time job at Sidley Austin, one of the top law firms in the country.

But until the final buzzer of his basketball journey sounds, Bosmans-Verdonk will continue to give it his all as he looks to finish strong.

“The closer the end gets, the more real it becomes,” he said. “So I’ve just been trying to live in the moment and really enjoy it. I have a lot of things to be excited about, but at the same time, I’ll look around like I’m here, and it’s being around special people in a special place. So this has been awesome.”

Discuss South Carolina basketball on The Insiders Forum!