Campers eagerly watch streetball star duel Benimon one-on-one
By Ross Wilkers
The kids attending the Falcon Basketball Camp last Wednesday got to see the year’s biggest one-on-one basketball game in Fauquier County.
The combatants were recent Fauquier High graduate Jerrelle Benimon — a 6-foot-8 local hero who will be attending Georgetown on scholarship — and Pat “Da Roc” Robinson, 25, a noted street basketball player who visited the camp last year and has been featured on the AND1 Mixtape Tour, which travels the world performing for crowds.
“The kids really like him,” FHS coach Wayne Brizzi said of Robinson.
Da Roc is known for his ability to make soccer-like dribbles with his feet and to make drum-like rhythms while handling the ball. His eye-popping moves are viewable on YouTube and other Web sites. Robinson's site is www.patdaroc.com.
Benimon and Robinson faced off last year at camp with Da Roc getting the better of the matchup. “The kids wanted Jerrelle to play him,” Brizzi said. “He likes the challenge of it.”
Benimon, the two-time Player of the Year in the Cedar Run District, answered the challenge and outscored Da Roc. There was no clear winner, however, as Da Roc hit the last basket after Brizzi announced the next shot wins, despite Benimon leading.
Both players had one block and Benimon’s best highlight was a tough fade-away jumper against an aggressive Da Roc, who is 6-2 with an explosive vertical leap.
Benimon looked as if he was one step ahead of Da Roc, rarely being deceived by the fancy dribbling. “He was more forceful going inside this time around,” Brizzi said of Benimon's approach.
“I did better this year,” Benimon said. “I wouldn’t mind playing him again...”See the Wednesday print edition of the Fauquier Times-Democrat for the complete story.