Pac-12 Player of the Year Bennedict Mathurin of Arizona is a Montreal native and has participated in the NBA Academy Latin America.
March Madness is here, and it’s one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans everywhere. For NBA fans, this time of year may serve as an introduction to some of the exciting prospects whose names will be mentioned in the draft in the future.
Some of the players on the NCAA Tournament stage have their start at the NBA Academy. Here’s a look at some of those games whose names you can just trust as the Madness continues.
Bennedict Mathurin (6-6 Guard, Arizona)
NBA Academy Latin America
The 19-year-old Montreal sophomore guard has put together one of the most beautiful campaigns in U.S. college basketball this season, averaging 17.4 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 37.6% from the 3-point range. He was named Pac-12 Player of the Year, the Pac-12 Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, and was selected as the Second Team All-American by the Associated Press.
Along with each individual award, Mathurin helped Arizona lead the Pac-12 regular season and tournament titles to a No. 1 seed in the Southern Region in the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats started the season 21-0 for the first time in school history and are considered one of the national title favorites.
Oumar Ballo (7-0 Center, Arizona)
NBA Academy Latin America
The 7-0, 260-pound sophomore was also a factor in Arizona’s dominant campaign, and his combination of size and athleticism could very well make him a player to look to in the future. The great man from Koulikoro, Mali posted 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in 15.4 minutes per game this season and shot 62.9% from the field.
His season-best performance was a 21-point, 6-rebound showing in a win over Stanford on Jan. 20. When Arizona cuts the nets in April, the ball may be a key reason.
Hyunjung Lee (6-7 Guard, Davidson)
NBA Global Academy
What if I told you that Lee, a junior from Yeok, South Korea, had achieved something at Davidson this season that not even Stephen Curry could achieve?
The NBA Global Academy product has reached the coined 50-40-90 mark this year – 50% shooting from the field, 40% from 3-point range and 90% from the free-throw line. He averages 16 points and 6 rebounds and that field goal percentage (47%) is truly elite for a college guard.
Lee helped lead Davidson to a 27-6 mark in the regular season and an Atlantic-10 regular season title. The Wildcats earned a No. 10 seed in the Western Region from the NCAA Tournament, taking over the 7th Michigan State.
Interestingly, Davidson was also a No. 10 seed in 2008 – back when that Curry kid led them to three thrilling victories and within a final second of the Final Four. Things worked out pretty well for him afterwards.
Santiago Vescovi (6-3 Guard, Tennessee)
NBA Academy Latin America & NBA Global Academy
The sharp shot junior from Montevideo, Uruguay was named as the First Team All-SEC after averaging 13.4 points, 3.1 assists and 4.5 rebounds this season. He also shot a conference-best 44.5% from 3-point range and had a knack for making big shots on the track.
Vescovi’s shot helped the Vols retain their first SEC tournament title since 1979, when they defeated Texas A&M on Sunday. He scored 17 points in the game, including four 3s drains. Tennessee deserves a no.
Alex Ducas (6-7 Guard, Saint Mary’s (CA))
NBA Global Academy
The Australian-born Geraldton was a key contributor to Saint Mary’s offense this season, averaging 10.2 points while shooting 40% from the field. He helped lead the Gaels to a 25-7 mark, a second-place finish in the West Coast Conference (behind dynastic Gonzaga) and a number 16 ranking in the national coach poll at the end of the regular season.
Ducas was named to the All-WCC second team for his performance during the regular season, and he will be named as Saint Mary’s 5th seed on the 12th.
Jonathan Tchamwa Tchatchoua (6-8 Forward, Baylor)
NBA Global Academy
The 6-8 junior from Douala, Cameroon will not have the chance to participate in the NCAA tournament this season after suffering a knee injury against Texas in February, but he was a key figure in the Baylor National Championship last season.
Tchamwa Tchatchoua averages 8.4 points and 6.8 rebounds this season for the Bears, who went 27-6 this season and entered the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Region.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper (6-8 Forward, Marquette)
NBA Academy Latin America
The Montreal freshman made a direct impact for Marquette this season, averaging 6.3 points and 3.3 rebounds to help the Golden Eagles reach No. 9 in the Eastern Region.
Prosper broke for a season-high 22 points in a 92-64 victory over Georgetown on Jan. 7 and added 18 in an 80-72 loss to Connecticut on Feb. 8.
Francisco Farabello (6-3 Guard, Texas Christian)
NBA Global Academy
The junior from Canada de Gomez, Argentina averaged 4.9 points and 19.1 minutes for TCU this season as the Horned Frogs won 20 games and finished fifth in the Big 12 Conference.
TCU earned a No. 9 seed in the South and will face No. 8 Seton Hall in the first round.
Aziz Bandaogo (7-0 Center, Akron)
NBA Academy Africa
Dakar, Senegal’s native averaged 3.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 11.5 minutes for mid-American conference champion Akron, who finished 24-9 on the season.
The Zips earned a No. 13 seed in the Eastern Region and will take over the No. 4 UCLA in the first round.
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