Raptors draft: Could Canadian prospect Bennedict Mathurin save Toronto?

The Toronto Raptors have proven to be both a masterful team when it comes to developing players and a place where Canadian studs, like Chris Boucher, can return home and put up points in their native country. Those two strengths could lead to the Raptors adding another Canadian stud, like Bennedict Mathurin, in the 2021 NBA Draft.

Mathurin, who is of Haitian descent, grew up in Montreal, and he attracted Arizona’s attention after impressing at the NBA Latin America Academy in Mexico City. Mathurin, a 4-star recruit, chose Sean Miller and the Wildcats over Baylor and Washington State, and that move has allowed him to become one of the best freshmen in the Pac-12.

Mathurin is averaging 10.8 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, though he has seen his scoring output rise after being inserted into the starting lineup. He is shooting 48 percent from the field and 42 percent from deep, proving he could be an effective scorer despite a limited amount of shots.

If Mathurin declares for the draft, teams from all over the NBA could look to take this raw perimeter scorer and mold him into a quality NBA player. Should the Raptors look to bring him back to Canada and work with him?

Could the Raptors draft Bennedict Mathurin?

ESPN currently has Mathurin ranked as the 68th best player in the draft, while For The Win has him going 40th to the Houston Rockets in one of their latest mock drafts. Sports Illustrated, perhaps his biggest fan, has him ranked 35th overall.

Mathurin is still very raw, as he needs to add a LOT of muscle if he wants to compete with NBA defenders on the wing. While he is improving as a shooter, he isn’t great at creating off of the dribble, and that inability to drive and finish at the rim could make it tough for him to stick as a starter.

Despite that, Mathurin is a composed, versatile defender that can lock up speedy guards on the perimeter and pick their pockets in order to start a fast break. His 31-point performance against Oregon State shows that when he gets hot from deep, he is capable of taking over a game. Look for Mathurin to keep improving his scoring as he gets more comfortable in Miller’s offense.

Masai Ujiri clearly has a few types of players that he likes to seek out, and his selections of players like OG Anunoby prove that he is willing to take a swing on young players that show versatility on both ends of the floor. If Mathurin keeps impressing, he could come back to Canada and star for the Raptors.