Bennie Boatwright
Birth dateJuly 13, 1996 (age 30)
Birth placeLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Height6 ft
Height in10
Weight lbs235
TeamFree agent
PositionPower forward
High schoolVillage Christian
(Sun Valley, California)
CollegeUSC (2015–2019)
Draft year2019
Career start2019
Years 12019–2021
Team 1Memphis Hustle
Years 22021
Team 2Maccabi Ironi Ramat Gan
Years 32021–2023
Team 3Fort Wayne Mad Ants
Years 42023
Team 4Libertadores de Querétaro
Years 52023–2024
Team 5San Miguel Beermen
Years 62024
Team 6Shanxi Loongs
Years 72025
Team 7Taipei Fubon Braves
Years 82026
Team 8Daegu KOGAS Pegasus
Years 92026
Team 9San Miguel Beermen
Highlights

Bennie Francois Boatwright III (born July 13, 1996) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He played college basketball for the USC Trojans.

Early life

Boatwright is the son of police officer Bennie Boatwright Sr., who was an All-CIF shooting guard at Lutheran High. Boatwright attended Village Christian School, where he was coached by Jon Shaw. As a senior, he averaged 27 points and 12 rebounds per game.[1] Boatwright led the team to a Southern Section 1AA championship, scoring 30 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in the title game. He signed with USC.[2]

College career

Boatwright averaged 11.5 points and 5.2 rebounds per game and made 60 3-pointers as a freshman.[3] As a sophomore, he averaged a team-high 15.1 points and helped the Trojans to two wins in the NCAA tournament. He declared for the NBA draft but ultimately returned to school. His junior season was shortened as he missed the final nine games.[4] He averaged 13.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game as a junior.[5] In the offseason after his junior year, Boatwright underwent knee surgery.[6] As a senior, Boatwright averaged 18.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.[7] He was named to the First Team All-Pac-12.[8]

Professional career

Memphis Hustle (2019–2021)

After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA draft, Boatwright joined the Detroit Pistons' Summer League roster.[9]

On October 18, 2019, Boatwright signed with the Memphis Grizzlies,[7] but was waived on October 19.[10] He was named to the roster of the Grizzlies’ NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.[11] Boatwright missed his rookie season due to a knee injury.[12] On December 15, 2020, Boatwright signed with the Memphis Grizzlies.[13] He was subsequently waived on December 19, and rejoined the Hustle.[14]

Fort Wayne Mad Ants (2021–2023)

On September 10, 2021, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants acquired the returning player rights of Boatwright from the Memphis Hustle.[15] However, he was waived on February 19, 2022, after suffering a season-ending injury.[16]

On September 16, 2022, Boatwright signed with the Indiana Pacers.[17] He was then later waived. On September 26, he re-signed with the Mad Ants,[18] but was waived on February 8, 2023.[19]

San Miguel Beermen (2023–2024)

In December 2023, Boatwright signed with the San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) to replace Ivan Aska as the team's import for the 2023–24 PBA Commissioner's Cup.[20] In his second game, he scored 51 points in a 132–110 win against the Terrafirma Dyip.[21]

Boatwright and the Beermen won the championship by defeating the Magnolia Chicken Timplados Hotshots in six games, earning his first as a professional.[22]

Shanxi Loongs (2024)

On February 28, 2024, Boatwright signed with the Shanxi Loongs of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).[23] He was afflicted by an injury in August 2024 for which he had treatment for it.[24][25]

Taipei Fubon Braves (2025)

In August 2025, Boatwright signed a test contract with the Taipei Fubon Braves of the Taiwanese P. League+.[26][27] On October 8, he made his debut for the team in the East Asia Super League.[27] On October 24, he signed a formal contract with the team.[27]

Daegu KOGAS Pegasus (2026)

In January 2026, Boatwright joined the Daegu KOGAS Pegasus of the Korean Basketball League.[28]

San Miguel Beermen (2026)

Boatwright returned to San Miguel Beerman in the PBA as a mid-tournament replacement for import Justin Patton in the 2026 Commissioner's Cup. Boatwright was being considered to be brought in earlier in the tournament but was unavailable due to his commitments with Daegu at the time.[29] He played his first game of the conference with SMB in April 2026.[30][31]

Personal life

Boatwright has been a candidate for naturalization by the Philippines since April 2024.[25] If granted Philippine citizenship, this will make him eligible to play for the Philippine national team. The process was stalled due to his August 2024 injury.[32][33]

Career statistics

College

|- | style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16 | style="text-align:left;"| USC | 33 || 32 || 24.4 || .394 || .359 || .738 || 5.2 || 1.0 || .4 || .8 || 11.5 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2016–17 | style="text-align:left;"| USC | 19 || 18 || 27.6 || .428 || .364 || .907 || 4.5 || 1.7 || .4 || .4 || 15.1 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2017–18 | style="text-align:left;"| USC | 23 || 18 || 27.7 || .415 || .346 || .726 || 6.4 || 2.0 || .3 || .8 || 13.6 |- | style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19 | style="text-align:left;"| USC | 31 || 28 || 33.5 || .474 || .429 || .702 || 6.6 || 2.5 || .7 || .6 || 18.2 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career | 106 || 96 || 28.3 || .432 || .380 || .759 || 5.7 || 1.8 || .5 || .7 || 14.5

References

  1. ^ Barnes, Evan (February 23, 2015). "Village Christian's USC-bound Bennie Boatwright transforms to all-around threat". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  2. ^ Sondheimer, Eric (March 7, 2015). "Boys' basketball: Bennie Boatwright leads Village Christian to 1AA title". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  3. ^ Daniels, Evan (February 1, 2017). "USC forward Bennie Boatwright set for return to action". Fox Sports. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  4. ^ McCullough, J. Brady (November 5, 2018). "Bennie Boatwright gets one final shot at a special season with USC's basketball team". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  5. ^ Kaufman, Joey (November 12, 2018). "USC basketball hopes Bennie Boatwright is back vs. Vanderbilt". Orange County Register. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  6. ^ J. Brady, McCullough (June 19, 2019). "USC's Bennie Boatwright has size and skill, but will he get an NBA chance?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  7. ^ "Memphis Grizzlies sign Bennie Boatwright". NBA.com. October 18, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  8. ^ "2018-19 Pac-12 Men's Basketball All-Conference Teams announced". Pac-12 Conference. Archived from the original on July 18, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  9. ^ "HOOPS: Boatwright signs with Detroit at undrafted free agent". 247Sports. June 21, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  10. ^ "Memphis Grizzlies waive three players". NBA.com. October 19, 2019. Archived from the original on November 7, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  11. ^ "Memphis Hustle announce final roster". NBA.com. November 4, 2019. Archived from the original on November 7, 2019. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
  12. ^ "Bennie Boatwright: No return in sight". CBS Sports. February 20, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  13. ^ "Memphis Grizzlies sign Zhaire Smith and Bennie Boatwright". NBA.com. December 15, 2020. Archived December 15, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  14. ^ "Memphis Grizzlies finalize 2020-21 regular season roster". NBA.com. December 19, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  15. ^ Vance, Dan (September 10, 2021). "Mad Ants acquire rights to Boatwright from Memphis Hustle". WANE. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  16. ^ "2021-2022 Fort Wayne Mad Ants Transactions History". RealGM.com. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  17. ^ "Pacers Announce Signings". www.nba.com. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  18. ^ "2022-23 NBA G League Transactions". gleague.nba.com. September 26, 2022. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  19. ^ "2022-2023 Fort Wayne Mad Ants Transactions History". RealGM.com. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  20. ^ Ramos, Gerry (December 16, 2023). "SMB keeps Ivan Aska for now as replacement Boatwright down with flu". Spin.ph. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  21. ^ "Boatwright drops 51, powers SMB to fourth straight win versus Terrafirma". PBA.ph. January 7, 2024. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  22. ^ "Sweet steal, escape, triumph for Beermen". PBA.ph. February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  23. ^ "山西男篮再添猛将". 太原新闻网. February 28, 2024. Retrieved January 5, 2025.
  24. ^ Henson, Joaquin (18 November 2025). "Bennie's back in town". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  25. ^ Henson, Joaquin (4 February 2025). "Where's Bennie?". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  26. ^ Sayson, Homer (August 20, 2025). "Bennie Boatwright signs with Taipei Fubon Braves". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved November 19, 2025.
  27. ^ "臺北富邦勇士正式簽約柏萊特(Bennie Boatwright)". P. LEAGUE+. October 24, 2025. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  28. ^ "Gilas problem solved as Boatwright lands in KBL after Taiwan exit". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. 5 January 2026. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  29. ^ Terrado, Reuben (12 April 2026). "San Miguel flying in Bennie Boatwright ASAP after reaching deal". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  30. ^ Micaller, Bea (19 April 2026). "Bennie Boatwright on explosive return for San Miguel: 'It's like I never left'". GMA News Online. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  31. ^ Terrado, Jonas (14 April 2026). "PBA: ‘Everything looks good’ as Bennie Boatwright makes SMB return". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  32. ^ Fuertes, Rommel Jr. (19 August 2025). "SBP still eyeing Bennie Boatwright for Gilas". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  33. ^ Tuazon, Ernest (19 November 2025). "House begins process for naturalizing Diouf, Boatwright, Means". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved 19 November 2025.