Winston Bennett

Winston George "Steady Bee" Bennett III (born February 9, 1965 in Louisville, Kentucky), is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the third round (64th overall) of the 1988 NBA Draft.

The 6-foot-7 Bennett played three seasons in the NBA, mainly for the Cavaliers, from 1989 to 1992. His best year as a pro came during his rookie season when he appeared in 55 games and averaged 6.1 points per game.

A star at Male High School in Louisville, Bennett was named "Mr. Basketball" for the State of Kentucky in 1983. He also earned Parade All-America and McDonald's All-America honors, sharing MVP honors with Dwayne Washington.

Bennett played collegiately at the University of Kentucky where he wore #25. As a freshman in 1983-84, Bennett appeared in 34 games for UK, averaging 6.5 points in 19 minutes per game as the Wildcats reached the Final Four, losing to Georgetown, 53-40.

The following season, he averaged 7.2 points in nearly 20 minutes per game to help UK to the West Regional Semi-Finals.

In 1985-86, his junior season, Bennett was named to the All-NCAA Regional Team and the SEC All-Conference Team after averaging 12.7 points and 7 rebounds per game. Playing under first-year coach Eddie Sutton, Bennett shot better than 50 percent from the field and led the Wildcats to a 32-4 record.

After red-shirting in 1986-87 to rehab a serious knee injury, Bennett served as team captain and averaged 15.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in 1987-88, his senior season, again earning All-SEC honors after helping UK to a 25-5 record and a No. 6 national ranking.

After his professional playing career ended, Bennett served as an assistant coach under Rick Pitino at the University of Kentucky from 1995-97 and, later, under Pitino, with the Boston Celtics, during the 1997-98 NBA season.

In 1996, while an assistant at Kentucky, the Wildcats won the NCAA Championship, defeating Syracuse, 76-67. The following season, UK finished as the runner-up, losing to Arizona in the championship game, 84-79.

In May 2000, he was named head men's basketball coach at Kentucky State University, a Division II university in Frankfort, Kentucky. In his first season with the Thorobreds, he led the team to a conference championship.

But on November 6, 2003, less than a week before the 2003-04 season was scheduled to begin, Kentucky State fired Bennett for allegedly hitting a player. According to an Associated Press report, "senior guard Ricky Green filed a complaint with the Franklin County attorney's office, accusing Bennett of striking him in the face during practice." According to the AP story, Bennett expressed regret about the incident, saying "If there was ever a time when I wish the hands of time could be turned back, it is right now."

Bennett was 44-43 in three seasons at Kentucky State.

In May 2007, Bennett was named the head men's basketball coach at Mid-Continent University, an NAIA school in Mayfield, Kentucky. In 2007-2008, the Cougars went 11-21, finishing ninth in the TransSouth Athletic Conference.

Bennett, his wife Peggy, and their three daughters -- Princess (15), Jasmine (10), and Stephanie (9) -- reside in Lone Oak, Kentucky.

External links

* [http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Players/Bennett_Winston.html Winston Bennett page]