Bennedict Mathurin isn’t just a University of Arizona Wildcats player. He is also, and above all, one of the best university basketball players in the United States, a leading prospect for the NBA draft and the standard-bearer of a new and talented generation of Quebec players.
Posted at 10:15 p.m.
The University of Arizona is the first seed in the South Division at the legendary March Madness tournament. If the team is among the four favorites at the start of the competition, it is in particular thanks to Mathurin. The 19-year-old Montrealer, who is 6’6″, is averaging 17.4 points per game since the start of the season and has just been named to the United States Second Team All-Star.
“I’m very excited, this is my first time playing March Madness. I will work as hard as possible to help my team win the national championship, ”he told reporters on Tuesday evening after training.
Visibly delighted to receive all this media attention on the eve of the most important tournament of his life, Mathurin says he does not feel any pressure. He and his teammates may enter the tournament as favourites, but he thinks they will have to continue playing as they have done since the start of the season.
“For the majority of players on the team, this will be our first appearance at March Madness. At the start of the season, not many people would have bet on us to win the tournament. We never had high expectations. »
Honoring Quebec
Mathurin will not be the only player from the province to participate in March Madness. In total, there will be 10 Quebecers. Six men and four women. A cuvée that will go down in history, and the Montrealer is proud to be the face of this cohort. This is not only an immense privilege, but also an opportunity to be seized to inspire the youngest.
“It’s a great honour. There are a lot of young people who send me messages on Instagram and who are inspired by my journey and who tell me that they are really happy to see where I am, because it motivates them. If I do all this, it is to motivate the young people who will come after me, ”he added.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper (Marquette), Georges Lefebvre (Vermont), Nathan Cayo (Richmond), Eze Dike (Yale), Tyrese Samuel (Seton Hall), Donna Ntambue (Northeastern), Julie Brosseau (Kansas), Kiandra Browne (Indiana) and Andrea Torres (Utah) will be the other representatives of the fleur de lys.
“With great talents like Olivier-Maxence, for example, it’s also an honor to be able to play against them, to represent Montreal and to have other good players with me,” said Mathurin.
Mathurin also recalled that he himself, growing up, had been inspired by Quebec players. Luguentz Dort is a great friend with whom he played. Chris Boucher was his neighbor. They were two inspirations. Today, he hopes to be able to play the same role for young people who watch and follow him.
A matter of time
He is well aware that March Madness and university basketball do not make headlines in Quebec. Having grown up here, he knows that the representation made of him is not representative of his talent and the prestige of his American adventure.
Nevertheless, he consoles himself by telling himself that it is a privilege to belong to this new generation which will be able to make the dream of the NCAA more accessible to young Quebecers.
“I think the fact that more and more young people from Quebec are approaching the American university ranks will give us even more attention. Not many people know what’s going on right now, but there’s a beginning to everything. »
I want to get as far as possible so people start paying attention [aux joueurs du Québec].
Bennedict Mathurin
The Mathurin family has always supported Bennedict in its development. Even today, despite the time difference imposed by the fact that he plays in Arizona, no one from the clan misses a Wildcats game. Especially not his sister, who is his biggest fan. In return, she is her brother’s biggest idol.
In Montreal or anywhere else in Quebec, many people will stay up late to witness the birth of a future idol for local basketball players.
Despite all the outside distractions about his role on his team or about his future in the NBA, Mathurin is focused on only one goal: “The most important thing for me is to win the March Madness . »