Rudy Benjamin (a.k.a The Ripper) led Roosevelt to back-to-back City Basketball Championships in 1966 and 1967. He earned 4 Varsity Letters (Basketball/Baseball) and 2x All-City, All-Area and All SW Ohio Selection Basketball Honors. He was voted Ohio Player of the Year (UPI) and named a High School All-American in senior season. After being highly recruited by over a hundred schools from across the country, he narrowed his college choices down to Louisville, Ohio State and Michigan before choosing Michigan State. Due to NCAA eligiblity rules at the time, freshman were ineligible to play on the varsity team. In his first season of play as sophomore, he played in 15 games and averaged 7.7 point per game. In his junior season, he started all 24 games for the season and raised his scoring average to 12.6 points per game. In his final season, he earned All-Big Ten Honors after leading the team in scoring with a 21.7 points per game average. Highlights of his college career included scoring a career high 41 points against Butler and receiving the MVP Award at University of New Mexico Lobo Classic Holiday Tournament. He was drafted by the San Diego Rockets in the 5^th Round of the 1971 NBA Draft.