"Even as a freshman, I always knew I was capable of playing and contributing, but I also knew that there were still things to learn and things about my game that I needed to improve. The experience of watching and learning from the older guys and continually working to improve myself helped me grow into the player that I am today."
 
When Taj Benning '21 joined Fairfield Men's Basketball as a freshman, the names above him on depth chart at the guard positions included the soon-to-be all-time leading scorer in Tyler Nelson '18, another four-year starter in Jerome Segura '18, and a highly-touted point guard in Aidas Kavaliauskas '20. Suffice to say, the minutes and the opportunities were not immediate for the rookie from Bergen Catholic, who averaged just 10.2 minutes per game with eight "DNPs" during the 2017-18 season en route to 1.6 points per game.
 
But one season does not make a career, as Benning has proven time and time again during his tenure as a Fairfield Stag. And as Coach Young has said about the fifth-year graduate student, "he's an example of everything we want in a Fairfield student-athlete. He's a good student, he's coachable, and he works his tail off. There is no magic formula. The magic is in the work."
 
Benning has scored 880 points in his career, appearing in 118 games to date with 83 starts. He was one of the major catalysts that propelled the Stags to the 2021 MAAC Championship Game, highlighted by netting 24 points and hauling in 12 rebounds – both career highs – in Fairfield's upset of second-seeded Monmouth in the quarterfinal round.
 
The magic is in the work.