It’s Impossible to Miss Men’s Basketball’s Ben Defty on the Court
At seven feet, he brings more than just his imposing height to the game
Men’s basketball forward Ben Defty (CAS’28), above at Case Gym January 13, describes himself as “an inside player.”
It’s Impossible to Miss Men’s Basketball’s Ben Defty on the Court
At seven feet, he brings more than just his imposing height to the game
It’s hard to miss Ben Defty.
At seven feet tall, the Boston University sophomore forward towers over many of his fellow players on the men’s basketball team.
But when Joe Jones, head coach of the men’s basketball team, first laid eyes on Defty at St. Thomas More, a college-preparatory school in Oakdale, Conn., his size wasn’t the only thing that stood out.
“It was the way he moved,” Jones recalls. “When I recruit players with size and a level of athleticism and quickness, they tend to be guys that I think can improve.”
Jones says he instinctively felt the German-born Defty had the ability to become a “super player,” but first, the rest of him needed to catch up to his body—and that, as Jones knows, takes time. For Defty, who’s lived in the United States for only three years, there was also the challenge of adjusting to the rigors of playing college varsity basketball.
“College is a different level than high school or playing ball back home,” Defty says. “The physicality and speed of the game took me a while to adjust to.”
But he has more than met the challenge. As a freshman, Defty was one of only four Terriers to play in all 32 games during the 2024-2025 season. Coming off the bench in every contest, he averaged 11.6 minutes, 4.9 points, and 2.6 rebounds a game.
As his freshman season progressed, Defty says, he became more comfortable on the court and more confident in his skills. A self-described inside player, he proved adept at finishing around the rim, snagging rebounds, and sharing the ball. That growing confidence was evident down the stretch, as Defty scored in double figures in five of last season’s final six games.
“As the year went on, he became a big part of our team,” Jones says. “We thought he could take another step and be someone that we could depend on.”
Now 26 games into his sophomore season, Defty is just that, for more reasons than Jones could have anticipated last season. This year’s team has been decimated with injuries and currently has just eight healthy players.
“Obviously the minutes he’s playing are probably not something that we thought he would have,” Jones says. “But being someone that could draw a lot of attention and then have the ability to make the game easier for others is what you would want, and that’s what he’s been able to do.”
Defty has started every game he’s played this year, averaging 29 minutes, 14.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. And he’s the first player opposing teams are talking about when scouting the Terriers.
“I’ve seen his game expand,” teammate Malcolm Chimezie (CAS’26) says.
Defty views his increased opportunity on the court as a blessing—thrilled for the chance to play more, but wishing more of his teammates were healthy enough to play alongside him. His personal goal is to seize the moment and help the team win the 2026 Patriot League Championship, which would be BU’s first since 2020.
Although the Terriers are 11-15, they’ve won their last three games, against Holy Cross, Loyola Maryland, and Army. Defty averaged 19.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and a block in those three wins.
Over the course of his year-plus as a Terrier, he’s become a more physical player. And he’s now a better communicator, he says, something he acknowledges was a weakness entering college.
“That’s something that the coaches are going to need from him, and something he’s more than capable of doing,” Chimezie says.
As a focal point of the Terriers’ offense, Defty’s work on the court is being scrutinized like never before, something his coach says he’s been quite receptive to.
“He’s handled that really well,” Jones says. “Those are things that I just like about him, that he’s able to hold himself accountable and wants to be better, and as long as he’s doing that, the guys around him are doing that, we’ve got a chance to improve.”
Jones says the sophomore star is set to be one of the best players in the league and is capable of leading BU to success in the coming years. “He could turn into a real force—he’s moving in that direction,” the coach says. “He’s got a chance to be a guy that’s a dominant force in this league on both ends of the ball.”
The men’s basketball team hosts Bucknell on Saturday, February 14 at Case Gym at 1 pm. Tickets are free for students with a sports pass, $5 for faculty, staff, and students without a sports pass, and $8 for the general public. Fans can stream the action on ESPN+.