Missouri S&T Athletics

2024-25: Named to the GLVC’s All-Defensive team for the 2024-25 campaign…averaged 8.7 points and 3.1 rebounds per contest...ranked second on the team with 89 assists and 38 steals…had an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.97-to-1 (89 assists against 30 turnovers); was four assists shy of having enough to qualify among the conference and national leaders…ranked 13^th in the GLVC with an average of 2.9 assists per game and 19^th in steals (1.2 per game)…had eight assists against no turnovers in the Miners’ win over third-ranked West Liberty…also had seven assists without a turnover in the win over Maryville…scored in double figures 13 times, led by an 19-point outing against Lincoln…shot 50 percent or better in a game on 16 occasions during the season.

2023-24: Started in 19 of the 26 games he appeared in during the season...averaged 5.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 42.1 percent from the field and 26.6 percent from three-point range...reached double figures on five occasions, led by a career-high 20 points in a win at Southwest Baptist in a game where he was seven-of-11 from the field...also had career bests with 10 rebounds vs. Health Sciences & Pharmacy and six assists against Missouri-St. Louis.

2022-23: Played in 26 contests during his freshman season...averaged 5.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game while adding 30 assists, 14 steals and two blocks...scored in double figures four times, with a high of 16 against NCAA Division II Tournament participant Montana State Billings...also had 13 in a victory at Quincy...pulled down a season-high six rebounds against Quincy and William Jewell...shot 46.2 percent from the field, 40 percent from three-point range and 83.9 percent at the free throw line...member of GLVC All-Academic team.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Lee's Summit High School, where he earned Missouri Class 6 first team all-state honors following the 2021-22 season...was a three-time all-district and two-time all-conference pick during hsi prep career...was named as the district's Player of the Year as well as his team's offensive Player of the Year following his senior season...was a semifinalist for the DiRenna Award on the Kansas City All-Metro squad...averaged 14.5 points, six rebounds, 4.5 assists and two steals per game as a senior after posting marks of 11 points, five rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1,9 steals as a junior...averaged 5.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest during his sophomore year...was the DiRenna slam dunk champion...also earned academic all-state honors...played quarterback on Lee's Summit's football team and earned all-conference honors in that sport.

PERSONAL: Son of Tom and Jill Benassi; both parents graduated from Missouri S&T and his father played football for four seasons...attended Lee's Summit High School...majoring in engineering management at Missouri S&T.