Lucas Gebhart
Staff Writer
Ben Wilson’s course to ISU has been a unique one.
Born in Brisbane, Australia, a city of over 2 million people, Wilson attended North Platte Community College in North Platte, Nebraska before finally making his way to Pocatello.
Wilson grew up with two brothers, so it is no surprise that the Wilson household was an active and competitive one.
“We played backyard basketball, backyard rugby and spent a lot of time at the beach,” Wilson recalled. “We also played a lot of videogames. It got pretty competitive.”
That competitiveness carried over to the basketball court where Wilson was a standout his last two seasons of high school, catching the attention of collegiate coaches.
“It was my senior year of high school and my high school coach at the time played at North Platte,” Wilson said.
Currently in his 31st season at North Platte, Head Coach Kevin O’Connor still had connections to Wilson’s high school coach.
“I was fortunate enough to get offered a scholarship, and I went over there and had two good years,” Wilson said.
North Platte won over 30 games in his final season, earning his team a spot in the round of 16. Wilson was awarded NCCAC MVP and voted to the First Team All-NCCAA team in 2012-2013.
“The run was amazing,” Wilson said. “The best part about that whole year was the team. The environment was great and we really enjoyed each other’s company, which made being on the court a lot more enjoyable.”
In addition to Wilson’s awards on the hardwood, he is also a standout in the classroom, as he received the Pinnacle Award while attending North Platte with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
“It’s always been a priority for me to do well in school,” Wilson said. “I know basketball is only going to last me an x number of years, so I have got to set myself up for the rest of my life.”
Although Wilson was redshirted his first season at ISU, there was still an adjustment period for him with the pace of the game.
“The pace is a lot faster. The guys are a lot bigger and a lot stronger,” Wilson said. “It was a bit of a change. It took me a good 10-15 games before I finally started playing how I wanted.”
A good athlete is what coaches look for in recruitment, but a good student-athlete is what coaches dream for.
ISU Head Coach Bill Evans hit the jackpot when he landed Ben Wilson.
“I was fortunate enough to get offered a scholarship here and I accepted it,” Wilson said. “I had a bunch of offers, but I came up here for a visit and it just felt right. It was a good fit and I really liked the coaches. To come here is the best decision I’ve ever made.”
Though the United States and Australia share the same native language, the two do not share their love for basketball.
“For a basketball player in Australia, it’s a second tier sport, so it’s not terribly popular,” Wilson said.
All of Ben’s friends and siblings played sports growing up, as a result, Wilson soon discovered that he had a talent for basketball.
“The reason I ended up in basketball is because I was above-average height,” Wilson said. “I fell in love with the game.”
Although Ben now stands at 6’6”, he was not always one of the tallest players on the court.
“I was sort of a late bloomer,” Wilson said. “I was an average player until my junior year.”
Australia has a professional league, but the NBA is halfway across the world in the United States. As a result, Wilson does not have a favorite NBA team, but he does have a favorite player.
“My favorite player is LeBron. I’ll follow wherever he goes,” Wilson said. “I like the way he plays. He is not just a one-dimensional player.”
Priding himself on his defensive abilities, Wilson will do whatever it takes to get ISU a win on game day.
“I am a good team guy. I’m good on rebounds, I can drive the ball, but most of all, I pride myself on my defensive abilities,” he stated.
Entering his senior season, Wilson tries to lead by example, showing the underclassmen how to be good basketball players and people not by telling them, but displaying the example himself.
“It is doing all the right things, and that’s not just on the court, it’s off the court as well,” Wilson said. “It means going to class, being respectful to your teachers, and being a good role model. On the court that means, playing the game the right way, playing good defense, being unselfish, and taking things as they come.”
In addition to playing the game of basketball the right way, Wilson has also learned how to live life in America the right way.
“The food here is more unhealthy, but don’t get me wrong I love it,” Wilson said.
Although he has a love for Mexican food, he claims that nothing will ever compare to his mother’s cooking.
“One thing that is here that I wish was in Australia is Mexican food,” Wilson claims.
The eastern Idaho winters have also been something that Ben has had to adjust to.
Depending on the outcome of his final semester, Wilson plans to move back to Australia where he can either continue playing or begin to get a start in coaching.
Wilson’s time in the United States has set him up to be a successful and respected man no matter where life decides to take him.
