The former Chicago Bulls star Corey Benjamin’s daughter was caught on camera sucker-punching an opposing player during a youth basketball game. It turns out that this isn’t the first time she has been involved in violent behavior.
Another video shows the girl throwing punches and attacking players during a different tournament game in Carson, California back in September. The tournament organizers banned the girl and her team after the incident. “When I realized that it was associated with the first fight, that I actually witnessed in person, it was devastating just because it’s as if this girl is kind of just out of control,” Swoosh director Tisha Mcafee said.
Avac United, the organizing group that hosts youth basketball games for kids also banned Benjamin’s daughter. Benjamin’s daughter is a minor, so her name has not been identified.
After Benjamin’s daughter sucker-punched 15-year-old Lauryn Ham, who was on the opposing team. The ban has been put in place to prevent future violence. “As a father, I’m shocked and disappointed at my daughter’s behavior as this is not a reflection of the values and standards that my family holds,” Benjamin said. ‘Nor does it exemplify the values, character, and spirit of sportsmanship that the game of basketball requires.”
Kevin Hahn, an attorney representing the Ham family, said, “My understanding is that organization that held the tournament banned her and suspended her from any other tournaments in their organization,” The organizers for last weekend’s tournament may have been unaware of the 14-year old girl’s suspension. The Ham family is seeking charges against both daughter and mother, according to Hahn.
Benjamin revealed that his 14-year old daughter was the basketball player who sucker-punched Lauryn Ham. He expressed regret for what happened and apologized on her behalf. “This is not how I raised my daughter,” said Benjamin.
The game referee told NBCLA that the 14-year old daughter’s mother instructed her to hit Lauryn. Now, Benjamin has apologized for both these acts. “To the young lady who was punched by my daughter during a youth basketball game, I sincerely apologize to you and I am praying for your complete healing both physically and emotionally,’ he said. “To her family, I deeply apologize and regret that this happened to your daughter as she did not deserve this to happen to her. Finally, I apologize to all of those who have been impacted and hurt by the actions of my daughter as well as those of her mother. I am here for your family and wish only the best for you.”
“As a father, I’m shocked and disappointed at my daughter’s behavior as this is not a reflection of the values and standards that my family holds,’ he continued. ‘Nor does it exemplify the values, character, and spirit of sportsmanship that the game of basketball requires. My daughter made a mistake. One that she will need to make right. I am committed to getting my daughter any help she may need and support her in taking accountability for her conduct.”
On behalf of the family of the 14-year-old, Attorney Brett Greenfield released a statement regarding the assault, “My client and her family are deeply and sincerely remorseful,’ the statement read. ‘This is an unfortunate incident involving a very hard-working and promising student-athlete. We must keep some perspective and keep in mind that this is a young minor who has made a mistake. The comments on social media in response to this incident are a cause of great concern for both the minor and her family. We would respectfully request that she be given the benefit of the doubt and that her privacy be respected given her young age.”