The year was 2008.
Former Greer head basketball coach Jeff Neely knew Anderson University was coming to recruit two of his basketball stars — Chris Dean and Chandler Hash — one fall afternoon during school.
He wasn’t surprised when both of those players left with offers following that visit from Anderson’s coaches. What did surprise him, however?
His team manager left with an offer, too.
“I couldn’t be in the gym at that time to work out Chandler and Chris,” said Neely. “So I sent our team manager at the time down to the gym to work them both out, so Anderson’s coaches could watch them go.
“I’ll never forget, [Anderson head coach Jason] Taylor came to my office after that workout. He said, ‘I offered both of your boys. But who I really want is that little manager of yours.”
That little manager? His name was David Bentley. And while Bentley may be little in stature, he made a big first impression during that workout.
So much so, in fact, that Taylor held true to his remarks. He offered Bentley a spot as his right-hand man at Anderson University.
“He said that if I wanted to be a manager or help coach, I had a spot waiting for me at Anderson,” said Bentley. “I don’t think I really did anything earth-shattering when running that workout. I really don’t. What I think he saw was the passion in me, the love for basketball I had.”
Bentley’s passion for basketball stood out then, and it stands out now. He’s now a coach with the Upward Stars program, an AAU club basketball program that boasts a long list of alumni currently playing Division 1 hoops — and several in the NBA.
Upward is one of the premier circuit programs in South Carolina. Bentley’s coaching and mentorship have played roles in the lives of several area stars.
“Growing up, basketball, I don’t know exactly what it was,” said Bentley. “I’m not sure if it was the thrill of the sport, the camaraderie of a team, and maybe it was a little bit of the impact that Coach Neely had on me at Greer. But by the time I finished high school, I knew it was all basketball for me.
“I knew I wanted to be a coach. I knew I wanted to have an impact on young athletes.”
THE TWO BIGGEST QUESTIONS
Bentley doesn’t shy away from his differences. He embraces them.
“There was a point, when I was playing basketball as a really young kid, where the kids around me kept growing, and I just wasn’t growing at that rate,” said Bentley. “I sort of stopped.”
Bentley, who was born with achondroplasia dwarfism, hasn’t let that slow him down. He’s one of the most widely respected coaches in the Upstate, with a connection list of college coaches longer than he’d be willing to admit.
His coaching philosophy is simple. Though he might not be able to demonstrate every single drill or get out there and play, no young athlete who’s ever come through his programs would say that Bentley didn’t care about them or about basketball.
Bentley’s love for his players and the sport shines through.
“Kids want to know two things,” said Bentley. “The first thing is ‘Do you care about me?’ The second is ‘Can you help me get better?’ And for me, the answer to both of those questions, no matter what, is always yes.
“If you can do those two things for a young athlete, I don’t think they care what you look like. They don’t care whether you walk or are in a wheelchair. If you have a kid’s best interest in mind and can help them get better, that’s all that matters.”
Just take it from Justin Bailey, a former Blue Ridge High School standout who now plays at the University of Georgia.
Bailey lit up when asked about Bentley, who he still says is “his guy.”
“I appreciate how honest and real Coach Bentley is,” said Bailey. “Our relationship has blossomed throughout the years because of how genuine he is, and that allows me and his players to feel comfortable communicating and playing on the court.”
Upward Stars is founded on its faith, with its labeled mission “promoting the discovery of Jesus Christ through sport.”
It’s a mission that Bentley is very passionate about, as his faith is the most important part of his life.
That faith is something Bentley’s had to lean on heavily throughout his life, navigating the complications of dwarfism.
ONE DAY...
It’s just over 10 years, to the day, since Bentley had his surgery.
On January 26, 2016, Bentley underwent a procedure to treat a condition called spinal stenosis of the lumbar vertebrae.
He explains the ailment best.
“One of the side effects of being a little person is that your spinal column is very narrow,” said Bentley. “So what happened over time was that my spinal canal had choked my spinal cord and the nerves that go to my legs.
“The pressure of that choking was causing me a ton of pain, and it cut off communication between my spine and my legs. The communication to my leg to do things as simple as taking a step, that was being cut off.”
Bentley had started to struggle walking months prior to getting the surgery.
“I was already kind of using a wheelchair for long distances, or if I were walking into the gym with someone, I’d have to balance on their arm or lean on a wall. My mobility was almost gone.”
After surgery, Bentley spent a month and a half in the hospital rehabbing. He’s been in a wheelchair since.
“You’ve pretty much got to relearn how to live life,” said Bentley. “You’ve got to learn how to get dressed again. I had to learn how to use the bathroom and get into bed again.
“But you know what helped me, in its own way? Being a little person. I’m already in a world that’s not really made for me. My mind was already built to do things differently.”
Bentley’s positive outlook on life comes from his faith.
“God doesn’t make mistakes” was the phrase Bentley’s parents instilled in him when he was a child.
“My faith in God is what gets me through. God made me this way for a reason. He has a purpose. He has a plan,” said Bentley. “One day, he’s going to come back and make all of this stuff right. That hope gets me through. One day, I’m going to have a full body. One day, I’m going to walk again.
“When I have a tough day on Earth, I remember it’s no comparison to the good He has coming for me.”
Bentley’s personal testimony — along with his warmth and ability to connect with the young athletes he coaches — has turned his story into an inspiration for many.
“He’s such a unique guy. He embraces his disability,” said Neely. “Despite some of the setbacks, he’s always kept pushing forward. He’s never let it stop him from doing what he wants to do.”
Bentley knows he inspires those around him each day.
“The other day, one of my friends who recently tore his Achilles messaged me and said, ‘When I have a tough day with my Achilles, I literally tell myself to suck it up and think about what David goes through every day.’
“I fully understand that I can be an inspiration to my friends and to other people," said Bentley. "Does that always make it easier? No. But one day, I believe this is not going to be the way things are… I wouldn’t be who I am without my faith.”
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