"No athlete is crowned but in the sweat of his brow" St. Jerome

"Slim Jim" Benedict won acclaim as a scorer at Hartford High during the golden era of Connecticut basketball in the late 50's and early 60's. His highest scoring game, 27 points against Ansonia, was one of many 20-plus-point performances.

Jim continued to hone his scoring skills after high school. At Brighton Academy he twice scored 50 points and scored at least 40 in nine games, compiling a total of 1500 points and earning him All New England Prep School Player of 1961.

His outstanding performance at Brighton won him a scholarship to Providence College, where he played alongside All-American Jim Walker for Coach Joe Mullaney. The Friars were NCAA invitees three times during Jim's time there. He was captain of the team that went to the elite eight in 1965 and that won the Holiday Festival Championship that same year, finishing with 24-2 record and a ranking of third in the nation. Jim is a member of the One Thousand Point Club and the Hall of Fame of Providence College.

After graduation, Jim went on to receive a Master's Degree from Rhode Island College, and he serves now as Chief Operating Officer of Eleanor Slater Hospital in Cranston, Rhode Island.