Jose Luis Benitez, a redshirt junior for the University of Southern Mississippi men’s basketball team, has his sights set on achieving his childhood dreams and athletic goals. Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Benitez moved to the United States to pursue his basketball career after spending his freshman year at Francis Marion University and completing high school in Miami.
Benitez began his basketball journey when he was young, inspired by his brother.
“I started playing basketball by watching my brother play at the park,” Benitez said. “I always played baseball, and from there, I began to follow my brother’s footsteps.”
His family’s influence fueled his passion for sports, leading to early success in the Dominican Republic, where he won five championships. This experience opened doors for him to continue his athletic career in the U.S.
“I’ve always said that I wanted to live in the United States and play my sport,” Benitez said. “I had the opportunity to travel to the U.S. at a young age to represent the Dominican Republic.”
His high school years were spent at Miami Prep, where he was coached by current USM assistant coach Juan Cardona. His performance there caught the attention of college scouts, leading to his decision to continue his career at the NCAA level.
“Some coaches noticed how we played, they liked it, and then they signed us,” Benitez explained. “That’s how we ended up playing basketball.”
Benitez later transferred to Southern Miss, where he saw greater opportunities both athletically and academically.
“American athletics offer lots of different opportunities, so I decided to come here to seek better education, to have more and better opportunities, and also to learn another language,” Benitez said. “I wanted the advantage of developing in another country and culture.”
Looking ahead, Benitez hopes to turn professional after graduating. His long-term goal is to play in the Dominican Republic’s professional league and in Europe, where the Euro League is considered the second most competitive league after the NBA.
“As a long-term [goal], I aim to develop in the professional league in the Dominican Republic, win more championships, and eventually play in Europe and continue growing as an athlete,” Benitez said.

In addition to his athletic pursuits, Benitez is majoring in Business with a minor in Spanish, emphasizing the importance of finishing his college education alongside his basketball career.