Editor:

I'm an alumnus living in south Florida, and an avid fan of Wildcat basketball. Being so far away from Tucson, I miss a lot of the Pac-10 Conference games. I have to watch SportsCenter just to see the scores and highlights. Every time I see a clip or score, one name consistently shows up: Ben Davis. The reason for my editorial is simple. GIVE BEN SOME RESPECT. I met Ben last year and accompanied him to Tanque Verde Elementary School, where he was the "Royal Reader" and read a storybook to the entire school. Afterwards, Ben answered questions about his life and his teammates. It was last year's preseason and practically no one was familiar with Ben at the time. He was a gentle character and very open to both students and me.

Ben spent the first few months of the season last year on academic probation due to his transfer credits, not his grades. It was falsely reported that his grades were the cause. How many transfer students each year lose credits? Almost all of them do. After his suspension, Ben showed some flashes of brilliance until he was suspended once again. This time it was for NCAA infractions that occurred before he enrolled at the UA. Ben sat out of the NCAA Tournament and had to watch as the Wildcats lost their first-round game to Miami of Ohio. He fulfilled the requirements of his suspension and worked all summer to pay off his fine, just to be eligible for his senior season.

Those hard times would cause most players of Ben's status to leave school and enter their name in the NBA draft, or pursue a wealthy career in Europe. Think about it: He went to Kansas as a freshman, Florida and Hutchinson (Kan.) Junior College as a sophomore and Arizona as a junior. He really didn't have a good record of forming strong ties to any one place - until he reached Arizona. His decision has paid off big for Ben and the Arizona basketball programs.

Ben led the Wildcats to a preseason NIT championship, tying Patrick Ewing's tournament record for rebounds and earning a spot on the All-Tournament team. He is the team leader in most categories and has recently had to assume a new responsibility in the absence of Joseph Blair. This past year, Ben's entire family moved to Tucson to give him added support. Since he left for college, his mother Mary, until now, has never seen Ben play in person. Tucson has adopted another son who has overcome some adverse times to become the team leader. His goals are simple: win the NCAA championship and pursue a career in the NBA. He could use your support. He's already got mine. That's why I'm writing.

Joe Lear
UA alumnus