Motivated Mathurin feels sense of urgency for Canada

TORONTO (Canada) - A lot can happen in a year for promising talent like Bennedict Mathurin.

Just last summer, the Canadian was competing at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup and reaching the podium after a victory over Serbia in the Third -Place Game.

"It was very intense and we learned a lot during that competition," Mathurin said. "Every game was a tough battle... I'll never forget it because it was my first medal wearing the national team jersey."

In the months to follow, the Montreal native performed so well in American college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats that he was named PAC-12 Player of the Year, was Consensus second-team All-American and the sixth overall pick in the NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers.

He has since flashed his credentials for his new team, earning a spot on the NBA's 2022 All-Summer League Second Team,

Now, before his rookie season in the league, Mathurin, 20, is back with Canada yet this time, in the senior squad just days before of fourth window of Americas Qualifiers for next year's FIBA Basketball World Cup, and the FIBA AmeriCup 2022 in Brazil.

Americas Qualifiers are coming up against Argentina and Panama. Then Canada will travel to Brazil to compete in the AmeriCup. In Group A, they will take on the Brazilians, Uruguay and Colombia.

"The coming cycle is very intense," Mathurin said, "and it's going to be a great challenge to make the most of the opportunities. The goal is to win medals, titles and to qualify for every single international tournament. That's where Canada belongs.

"The goal is to put and keep Canada among the most competitive national teams in the world...

"THE GOAL IS TO WIN MEDALS, TITLES AND TO QUALIFY FOR EVERY SINGLE INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT. THAT’S WHERE CANADA BELONGS."

"The AmeriCup, the possibility to qualify for the World Cup and the Olympics after, we want to be there and show the world what we are capable of. It's very exciting, very good to be looking forward to all of those competitions and make great runs in each of them to try to fight for medals and titles."

Canada has for a log time been a country deemed to have an abundance of players with flair, and talent. It's been viewed as a national team that has barely scratched the surface of its potential.

It came up short of the Tokyo Games, despite hosting the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Victoria last summer. Yet on the rebound, no national team has been better in the Americas Qualifiers for next year's World Cup. Canada won all six of their games in the First Round and go into their August 25 game, once again in Victoria, against a Facundo Campazzo-led Argentina breathing fire. A game at Panama on August 29 will follow.

Campazzo is one of the best guards in international basketball and promises to be a handful.

"The next two games are very important," Mathurin said. "First, against a very good Argentina national team that has a lot of experience and very good players that compete at the highest level, and Panama after, away from home, which is going to be an interesting battle.

"The goal is to punch the ticket as soon as possible and also to try to wrap up the Qualifiers undefeated," Mathurin said. "The team has been playing at an amazing level, and everything is going in the best possible way, so it's very positive and exciting for the next games. Everyone is very motivated to help, to push for each other and to bring Canada to the highest level. These are very, very exciting times for the national team."

It would be a sweetener for Mathurin to not only make the team but to play alongside Luguentz Dort, another Canadian from Montreal.

Mathurin has called Dort "a big brother" and says he's a great example for Canadian youngsters.

"He's a mentor, a big brother, family for me," Mathurin said of the Oklahoma City Thunder star. "We have a very close relationship, and his journey is very inspirational because he worked hard to get where he is today. He's a very hard worker, a guy that gives me a lot of advice and we train with each other when we can during the off-season.

"He's a great representative for Canada and Quebec basketball, and many younger players see him as a great example both on and off the court. He shows that with hard work and sweat, you can achieve your goals and dreams. "

 FIBA