Like most young children, Taj Benning loved sports and loved playing them all. As a youngster, the New Jersey product played football, baseball, and basketball and showed a slight preference toward the pigskin in those early years. But the influence of his parents intervened and helped push Benning toward the round ball.

                "I liked playing football but mother didn't like me playing the game so that put an end to that pretty fast," Benning said with a smile. "But I found that I liked the physical aspect of basketball so when I hit 9, I just wanted to play basketball. And, my dad coached me when I was in rec leagues plus all of my friends played basketball so I stuck with it."

                Whether it was the influence of his mother or his father, Benning found himself enthralled by the game of basketball. He loved everything that game had to offer and from that passion grew opportunities that eventually led him to a Division I scholarship at Fairfield University.

                "I love competing and I love winning, absolutely hate losing" Benning said. "I love working out, that's what took it to the next level for me. Once I saw myself getting better, it really motivated me."
                That motivation landed him an opportunity to play for Coach Sandy Pyonin and the New Jersey Roadrunners, an AAU program that has opened doors and provided opportunities for so many elite basketball players. The program claims the talents of Kyrie Irving and Randy Foye, two of the 35 NBA players listed on the Roadrunners' alumni list.

                "I met with Randy Foye twice and he just knows so much," Benning said. "He's been around a while and taught me so much about the game. I also met Kyrie Irving once. He came down to the gym and it was a crazy experience. No one knew he was coming so when he walked in, we all just surrounded him. It was cool meeting him. And there are so many others who had short NBA careers and great college careers who are always in the gym so I have always been around those types of guys."

                Seeing players who have prospered and achieved excellence means a lot to impressionable young men who are looking to find themselves both on and off the court. It is through their life stories and experiences that Benning learned that there is ample opportunity for anyone who has the desire to achieve success.

                "When you see guys like Randy and Kyrie and they tell you that they were where we were at one time, it inspires you to work hard." Benning said. "If they tell you that you can play and that they were in our position a few years ago, it makes you think being successful really is possible."

                With endless possibilities in front of him, Benning began working toward his goal of becoming a complete basketball player. He started with the New Jersey Roadrunners program when he was 10 years old, learning from the experience and knowledge of Coach Pyonin. On the scholastic level, Benning began playing at Bergen Catholic High School under Coach Billy Armstrong, who led Benning and his teammates to a county championship and state tournament appearances as well as helped Benning earn All-Big North Conference, All-Bergen Country, and All-State honors during his career.

                "I was blessed and lucky to have two amazing people in my corner," Benning said. "My high coach Billy Armstrong was like part of my family. He taught me so much about basketball and life. He taught me to be a better basketball player and a better person at the same time. On the AAU side, I had Coach Sandy who has seen it across all levels. When he tells you that you can play, it gives you confidence. The one thing I can say about Coach Sandy is that he instilled so much confidence in me that I felt like I can do anything."

                On that list of things to do, Benning checked off earning a chance to receive an education and play Division I basketball, accomplished when he accepted Fairfield University Head Coach Sydney Johnson's offer to join the Stags beginning with the 2017-18 season.

                "Division I basketball was always around me so that was always my goal," Benning said. "I chose Fairfield because of the coaching staff.  When I first came to campus, I knew that I wanted to be here. It's been really easy to get adjusted here. The guys were inviting and made me feel welcome right away. Jerome (Segura) and Tyler (Nelson) helped me out a lot when I first came to campus."

                The upperclassmen rolled out the red carpet many times as they showed all eight newcomers around campus on their visits. Of those eight rookies, only Benning and Alonde LeGrande hail from the United States. Yet, the sophomores, juniors, and seniors have made Fairfield's six freshmen international student-athletes feel at home over the last few weeks.

                "I like having so many newcomers on the team because we are doing it together and learning on the fly," Benning said. "I think we are really close especially since we have only been together a few weeks. It's exciting that we can build for the future. Plus, I have had international teammates since I was a freshman in high school, including Pierfrancesco Oliva who now plays at St. Joseph's (Pa.). As a junior, I had a teammate from Nigeria and two more from Italy join the team. It's really great to spend time with people and learn their cultures."

                One of those bonding experience for Fairfield's eight came last month when the team toured Italy over a 10-day period. For some of the Stags, it was their first trip overseas. But that was not the case for Benning, who went a whole lot farther with the Roadrunners.

                "I went to China in 2015," Benning said. "We played nine games over there and it was a great experience. The food took an adjustment especially the first couple of days but it became better after that. We played the number one prep team in China and lost the first game in front of 9,000 people. We beat them the second time we played though. We beat their U-17 team and split with their U-18 team plus won games against a few club teams as well."

                His experience at the high school and AAU levels provided the basis for the athlete he is today, an all-around player who can score and defend.

                "Coming into Fairfield, I am looking at it the same way I did when I started high school – just put my head down and get to work," Benning said. "That's what I have been doing here. I'm trying to get better every day and I'm doing that. I pass and see the floor well and I can score as well as defend. I want to come in and make an impact. I am a hybrid player and can affect both sides of the ball."

                Although he once preferred the gridiron over the hardwood, Benning's drive and determination has developed him into that hybrid basketball player, a player that will thrill and excite the Fairfield faithful for the next four years.