Ben Bentil to Remain in 2016 NBA Draft: Latest Comments and Reaction

The Providence Friars will now be without their top two scorers from last season, as forward Ben Bentil will remain in the 2016 NBA draft on June 23.

ESPN's Jeff Goodman reported the news Sunday. Bentil will join Friars point guard Kris Dunn in leaving for the pros.  

Bentil confirmed the news on Instagram:

Bentil was a force for Providence in 2015, averaging 21.2 points—which led the Big East—and 7.8 rebounds as a sophomore. Dunn put up 16 points and 6.4 assists per game. 

Sophomore forward Rodney Bullock was the only other Friar to average double figures, with 11.6 points per game. Goodman noted he will need to become the man for Providence this upcoming season:

CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein believes the losses of Bentil and Dunn will force the program into a rebuilding season:

The Friars have a solid recruiting class coming in that should help accelerate any rebuilding they must do. Providence ranks 46th overall in 247Sports' 2016 composite team rankings, and the haul includes 4-star point guard Maliek White and 4-star forward Alpha Diallo, along with two other players. 

At 6'8" and 229 pounds, Bentil is a versatile stretch forward who can provide buckets from the perimeter and the inside. He is making a risky decision to leave after only two seasons, as DraftExpress currently has him going in the second round at No. 45. 

Still, ESPN's Fran Fraschilla believes Bentil had a strong showing at the NBA Draft Combine in mid-May and could be a first-round pick, which gives the forward hope he can latch on at the next level:

If Bentil can improve his quickness and his three-point shooting percentage (33.3 percent in 2015), he should become a solid role player off the bench. He may have benefited from an extra year at Providence, but with injuries always a possibility to sink draft stock, it is not a total stretch to agree with this decision.

All statistics courtesy of ESPN.com and recruiting information courtesy of 247Sports.