Profile
Then: Back
Cut : 1m98
Weight : 95kg
Crew : Arizona Wildcats (Pac-12 Conference)
Stats 2021/22 : 17.7 points (45% shooting, 36.9% 3-pointers), 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists
Presentation
A native of Montreal, originally from Haiti, Bennedict Mathurin spent two seasons in the NCAA, in the famous Arizona program, before making the leap to the NBA in April.
What is interesting in his case is that he was already considered a potential first-round pick last year, at the end of his “freshman” season. Holder 12 times in 26 games, he had compiled promising averages of 10.8 points (47.1% on shots, 41.8% on 3-pointers), 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game.
But somewhat to everyone’s surprise, he had withdrawn his name from the Draft (he had registered while maintaining his eligibility) to return to campus, and play his “sophomore” season.
A year later, with hindsight, the conclusion is clear: it was an excellent choice. Having become an indisputable holder under the leadership of the new coach of the Wildcats, Tommy Floyd, who came straight from Gonzaga where he had officiated for 20 seasons as an assistant in the staff of Mark Few, the Canadian has made great progress. His playing time has increased (from 25 to 32 minutes), as has his shooting volume (from 7.2 to 13.1, and 3.5 to 6.1 from 3-pointers) and his involvement in all other areas of the game (from 4.8 to 5.6 for rebounds, 1.2 to 2.5 for assists).
An elegant scorer, he was one of the most pleasant strikers to watch in the country. From a “simple” first-round pick in 2021, it has become a future “lottery pick” in 2022.
POINTS FORTS
– The outside shot
With 41.8% 3-point success on 3.5 attempts during his first year, then 36.9% on 6.1 attempts during his second year, which gives an average of 38% success on 5 attempts per game in two seasons, Bennedict Mathurin has proved that his wrist was reliable behind the arc.
Of course, its efficiency could ideally be even higher. But for such a volume of shots, the vast majority taken in “catch-and-shoot”, the percentage of success is rather promising for a player who will be barely 20 years old (June 19) on the evening of the Draft.
His shooting mechanics are fluid and fire high, safe from counter attempts by players shorter than him, and his elbow is well placed in the axis. Among the pros, without even knowing his team, his playing time or his role in advance, we can already be sure that he will be useful in attack thanks to this shot. In the NBA of 2022, when a player can sanction behind the arc, he should logically play.
– The creation of his shot in progress
At 3-point out of the dribble, the Canadian’s shooting success percentage is 34.7%. He has a lot of room for improvement in this exercise, but it’s promising for a 19-year-old guard whose shooting volume was high in the NCAA. Especially when you know the difficulty of this shot, even for the pros. If his percentage increases, he will become a very difficult attacker for the defenses to maneuver.
At mid-range, it’s less blatant, simply because he takes very few shots of that type. Indeed, Bennedict Mathurin currently has a binary offensive game: he ends up in the circle or draws behind the arc.
But with a compact and sure dribble, and the promise displayed in the creation of the 3-point shot, everything suggests that he will shine in the exercise of the “pull-up” at mid-range, in an NBA which defends a lot in “drop” and gives spaces in this area to the ball carriers.
– Good circle finisher
This is the other strong point of his game. Very strong back, both in the chest and in the legs, he can easily access the circle and knows how to finish with a rather high efficiency (63% success in the circle last season). Of course, like all guards drawn to the circle at the college level, he will have to prove that he can adapt to the physical challenge presented by athletic circle protectors in the NBA.
The other positive and reassuring point of his offensive game near the basket is his ability to attract fouls, and to convert free throws at a high frequency. In two NCAA seasons, he was almost 80% successful in the exercise, on average 4.1 attempts per game.
WEAK POINTS
– Concentration jumps in defense
On the ball carrier, nothing to report. Bennedict Mathurin is a very good defender, thanks to advantageous athletic qualities, quick support and a wingspan measured at 2m10.
On the other hand, the shoe pinches sometimes on the defense on the non-carrier.
Suddenly less focused and invested when defending away from the ball, he can often be taken aback. Last year, he often tended to get swallowed up by screens, on pick-and-roll or on non-carrying screens behind his back, and was sometimes very slow on defensive 3-point coverage .
The ability to be a top-notch defender is there, but he has to make sure to give his all in every game. If he is surrounded by a few veterans who push him in training, and a coach who stimulates him, everything should be fine.
Comparison
Victor Oladipo (before injuries), for the scoring and athletic back profile.
Prognosis
In between 7th and 12th place.
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