At 16, Cassandre Prosper aims without complex for the highest peaks of basketball. This season, the Quebecer was named player of the year in Canada in her age category and most valuable player of the Ontario School League.
Posted at 9:00 a.m.
The Rosemère native has dominated the Ontario league this season averaging 25.1 points and 13.7 rebounds per game with her team, Capital Courts Academy. She helped her team win the championship, posting 33 points and 15 rebounds in the Grand Finals, where she was named Most Valuable Player.
“We wanted to win since the beginning of the year,” she told The Press. Individual honors were really fun, but the best thing was to win [le championnat de la] Team League. »
Cassandre Prosper’s performances have been turning heads for several years now. This season, she has established herself as Canada’s top prospect for 2023. She is already being courted by many NCAA Division 1 colleges across the United States.
At the end of the line, the young woman takes the time to tell us about her career, her choices and her ambitions. Quickly, we understand that we are dealing with a tireless competitor. An athlete who thrives on challenges. Take a look at his journey.
“I wanted a challenge”
Coming from a real family of basketball players, the young Cassandre quickly found herself with a ball in her hands. His parents, Gaétan Prosper and Guylaine Blanchette, both played for Concordia University in the past. His brother, Olivier-Maxence Prosper, currently plays for the Marquette University Golden Eagles in NCAA Division 1.
Just seeing them really love that sport made me fall in love with the sport too.
Cassandra Prosper
At the age of 13, Cassandre Prosper joined Brookwood’s youngest AAA men’s team. She was playing at the same time with older girls, of the cadet category, in Laval.
“I wanted a challenge,” she explains. […] It was stressful, but I wanted to try it. It paid off, I played with different people, different mentalities. I had different roles in each team. To play with girls and guys at the same time was really important for me to evolve and grow. »
Prosper then evolved within the female youth in Laval. At 14, she helped Team Quebec win gold at the Canadian Under-15 Championship, and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
It was in 2020 that she decided to continue her development at Capital Courts Academy (CCA), in Ottawa. Once again, it was his perpetual quest for challenges that guided his decision.
“I thought I needed something even more challenging,” she suggests. I always want to be in difficult situations to improve myself.
“In Ontario, I was going to a very strong league,” she continues. I thought it was a good opportunity for me to grow. I was also going to be more in touch with the national team, have access to a lot more resources because it’s a prep school. »
Multiple invites
Since then, things haven’t stopped going well for Prosper. In the summer of 2021, she represented Canada at the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Americas U16 Tournament, where she captured silver and took first place in scoring.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY CANADA BASKETBALL
Cassandra Prosper
Last February, she was one of 19 players to make the Senior Women’s National Team preliminary roster for the FIBA World Cup 2022 Qualifying Tournament.
“That was wow,” she exclaims. You really realize how great your potential is. The youngest who are on this team are in the NCAA. To be considered was amazing.
“My goal has always been to go to the Olympics with Team Canada. The fact that I’m close to that and I’m only 16 is something that motivates me. »
It should be noted that she also took part in the women’s high performance evaluation camp to join the U17 national team, which will participate in the FIBA Women’s World Cup in July.
Inspire
Cassandre Prosper exudes an astounding humility and maturity for her age. His many goals go beyond basketball. Herself inspired by her brother, she hopes to have a positive influence on young Quebec basketball players.
My first goal is to always inspire the most young people, but especially the most young girls. [à jouer au basketball].
Cassandra Prosper
The 6’2″ athlete will complete his 5and secondary in the coming weeks. Next year, she will evolve again with CCA. She therefore has time to make an informed decision about the school she will choose for her entry into the NCAA.
“I would like to go to a college that will be good for me, in which I will be able to grow and develop,” she says.
And in the longer term, its objectives are clear.
“My goal has always been to play in the WNBA, but above all to dominate it,” she says bluntly. It’s not just to play it, but to be the best. »