For the second consecutive year, a Quebecer was selected in the first round of the NBA draft on Thursday evening. The Rosemèrois Olivier-Maxence Prosper was chosen at 24e rank by the Sacramento Kings, then immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks, according to ESPN.
Chris Boucher. Luguentz Dort. Bennedict Mathurin.
Now add Olivier-Maxence Prosper to this list of Quebecers in the big league.
As soon as NBA commissioner Adam Silver said his name, Prosper hugged his parents, Gaétan Prosper and Guylaine Blanchette, as well as his sister Cassandre. He wore a beaming smile as he stepped onto the stage.
The young man wore his Sacramento Kings cap in an interview with Sportsnet, but he was reportedly traded to the Mavericks, according to ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski. As of this writing, however, the swap has yet to be made official. In Dallas, he would find himself on the same team as one of the tour’s star players in Luka Dončić.
Asked what their son will bring to his new team, Prosper’s parents described him as a versatile young man, a hard worker “who will give energy to the team, that’s for sure”, according to M.me Blanchett.
“He always says he brings a spark to everything he does,” continued Mr. Prosper. He’s going to bring his spark on and off the pitch, into the game, but also into the culture of the team, in any way he can. We are so proud of him. »
” And [il va amener] victory ! “, added his spouse. “Absolutely,” added his son.
“He is ready to do anything”
It’s been a few years since Olivier-Maxence Prosper left Quebec to fulfill his dream as a basketball player. The native of Rosemère spent a season in Illinois, within the Academy of Lake Forest, before being recruited by the Academy of Latin America of the NBA, in Mexico City. There, he played alongside Bennedict Mathurin, who last year became the earliest Quebecer drafted in NBA history.
This experience in Mexico was a first step towards greater heights for Prosper, who made his arrival in NCAA Division 1 the following year.
“It prepared me so much,” the principal told Sportsnet. Being part of the Academy, playing with guys like Bennedict Mathurin, Josh Giddey […]. I got better every day. It was an amazing experience for me. »
His first season, under the colors of Clemson University, was not easy for the young man of 6 ft 8 in. It was the following year, when he transferred to Marquette University for his second season, that he was able to establish himself in the circuit and, gradually, make his place among the best prospects.
PHOTO PAUL SANCYA, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Olivier-Maxence Prosper (12) in the Marquette University Golden Eagles
This season, his second at Marquette, he played in all 36 games for his team and averaged 12.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. He also hit 33.9% of his attempts from the three-point line. He helped his team win the regular season and Big East tournament titles.
Nelson Ossé, co-director of the Brookwood Elite summer program in which “O-Max” evolved for four years, knows the Prosper family well. Reached by phone by The Press a few hours before the draft, he described the selection of the Quebecer as a “great pride” for the program and for Quebec.
“Oli is a versatile player,” he said. He likes to win. He is ready to do anything. He’s a team player. He’s the guy who can be the glue on your team. If you ask him to put baskets, he will do it. If you ask him to play defense, [il va le faire]. One of the big strengths I remember about him is that he was a very good teammate. »
A family story
Olivier-Maxence Prosper comes from a real family of basketball players. His parents both grew up at Concordia University. His sister, Cassandre, joined the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish in NCAA Division 1 last December. Last year, she was named Canada’s Player of the Year in her age category and the Ontario School League’s Most Valuable Player.
Hard to find a more passionate family.
Nelson Ossé, who has followed Prosper’s development over the years, attributes the young man’s success both to his “perseverance” and to the guidance of his parents.
He has always been a young perseverant. His dream has always been to make the NBA. […] I had the chance to see him in the summer, when he came back to Montreal. He was in the gym almost seven days a week with his father. He put in the work.
Nelson Ossé, Brookwood Elite Summer Program Co-Director
If the work has borne fruit, it is far from over. What future does he predict for the Quebecer in the big league? Ossé doesn’t hesitate: “Me, I don’t see any limits”, he drops.
“The fact that he has improved and continues to improve… In English, we say sky is the limit. That’s what I wish for him. »
“It’s no longer a chance”
Nelson Ossé has trained several Quebecers who have played or are still playing in the NCAA. When asked if we can expect to see other native players from the province drafted this high in the next few years, he immediately replies that “it is certain”. According to him, it is time that basketball begins to “be seen as a dominant sport in Montreal” and that “politicians, investors, begin to understand that there are perhaps other sports than hockey in Quebec. “. “Yes, Chris Boucher, you could say it’s a chance, he continues. After that, there was Luguentz Dort. You could have said it was a chance, but there was Bennedict Mathurin. A year later, we have Olivier-Max. It’s no longer a chance. It means that there are good coaches, good development. Sooner or later, we may have to start thinking about developing and investing a little more in this sport. »
The beginning of the Wembanyama era
Unsurprisingly, it was Frenchman Victor Wembanyama who was selected first overall by the San Antonio Spurs. Although he has never played a single game, the 19-year-old is already seen by several players as the best prospect since LeBron James. In an interview with Sportsnet after his selection, the 7’5″ athlete burst into tears. “I’ve waited so long for this! “, he said.