Sharing the Wealth: NBA on Ben McCauley's Mind

When people think about "NBA talent" what comes to mind is a player with extreme athleticism, a dead-eye jump shot and blazing quickness. Former NC State big man Ben McCauley has none of the above, however that isn't stopping him from following his NBA dream. One word that describes McCauley to a tee is "solid", and make no mistake, there is room for "solid" on an NBA roster.

We recently came across a great article by Ben's hometown paper "The Valley Independent" which had the opportunity to catch up with him and talk about his time at NC State and his pursuit of an NBA contract.

He may not be a marquee player or a go-to guy, but he'll get the opportunity to get paid to play," said Mike Morrison, a former NBA player who is helping to train McCauley in Greenville, N.C., for a shot at making an NBA team.

One thing Big Ben made his living off with the Wolfpack is his ability to score with his back to the basket. The NBA is littered with big men built like bodybuilders, which would certainly pose a problem for Ben's method of attack. That very fact has had McCauley working hard in the gym at being able to stretch the defense by honing his mid-range game.

"I can definitely see myself finding a spot on a team," he said. "Not everybody's an all-star. I'm going to find my niche. I think if I can develop a knockdown 3-point shot to go along with my defensive and rebounding ability, I can bring enough energy to a team to be a valuable contributor."

While many will write him off for being undersized and not athletic enough, McCauley has supporters who know that where there is a will there is a way. One of those supporters is NC State head coach Sidney Lowe.

"Ben really dedicated himself last summer, and that's why he (played) well," Lowe said. "There's not been one single day this year in practice or for the game when he didn't come ready to play."

That very ability to focus and come mentally ready to compete is one of the main reasons McCauley believes he can find a spot with a NBA team. There have been players with less of a skill set that have made it. With the passion and drive that Big Ben brings to the table, we believe he will get his shot somewhere at some point. We are certainly rooting for him.

"I've been watching the NBA playoffs as much as I can and I know there is a place for me," McCauley said. "I believe I have a legitimate shot. A lot of guys play overseas for a couple of years. It may not happen right away, but I feel confident that with the guys I've been working out with, I'm in a really good situation."