High School Sports

Former NC State basketball star to coach high school team in Cabarrus County

Former Concord High and N.C. State basketball star Ishua Benjamin is coming back to Cabarrus County.

Benjamin will be the next head coach at West Cabarrus, The Observer has learned.

Benjamin coached at Cary Academy, an N.C. private school, from 2020-24, posting a 53-36 record.

He’ll take over a West Cabarrus team that was 16-12 last season, which was the school’s first winning season since finishing 13-11 in 2022-23.

Benjamin, who will likely play his alma mater at West Cabarrus, played four years at N.C. State in the 1990s. Benjamin averaged 10.7 points and 3.7 assists per game.

In high school, Benjamin was named Mr. Basketball by The Charlotte Observer after averaging 20.5 points, 6.7 assists, 6.0 rebounds and 5.3 steals as a senior. He was named a fourth team Parade All-American and was ranked the No. 10 point guard nationally by recruiting analyst Van Coleman.

This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Former NC State basketball star to coach high school team in Cabarrus County."

Langston Wertz Jr.
The Charlotte Observer
Langston Wertz Jr. is an award-winning sports journalist who has worked at the Observer since 1988. He’s covered everything from Final Fours and NFL to video games and Britney Spears. Wertz -- a West Charlotte High and UNC grad -- is the rare person who can answer “Charlotte,” when you ask, “What city are you from.” Support my work with a digital subscription
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