The sophomore guard was electrifying in the Wildcats’ Round of 32 overtime win over TCU, going off for 30 points, eight rebounds and four assists with some big-time shots down the stretch to keep the No. 1 seed’s NCAA title hopes alive.
His performance had social media timelines buzzing, but how does Mathurin project as an NBA player?
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In my 2022 NBA Mock Draft leading into March Madness, I had Mathurin going No. 9 overall.
As I mentioned in his Mock Draft blurb, while he is listed behind other guards like Duke’s AJ Griffin and Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis, I believe Mathurin is in the same tier as those players and could be selected ahead of any guard in this draft class not named Jaden Ivey.
At 6-foot-6, 195 pounds with a reported 6-foot-9 wingspan, Mathurin has the size, length, strength and quickness to hold his own against any perimeter player in the NBA. Oh, and he’s still only 19 years old.
Bennedict Mathurin scouting report: offense
What separates Mathurin as an NBA prospect is his ability to knock down jumpers in a variety of ways, more than comfortable shooting off the bounce but also willing to play off-ball and come off of screens and cuts to free himself up for open looks.
Mathurin’s jumpshot is clean and confident. He has a quick and high release and doesn’t get phased by defenders challenging his shot. He’s always looking to stop on a dime and pull up for a jumper – almost to a fault at times, forcing contested looks – but he’s a tough shot-maker.
He has the “it” factor, wanting the ball in his hands in big moments, which we saw on this pull-up off the dribble to help his team survive and advance on Sunday night.
Mathurin’s knockdown jumper plays to his advantage as he’s already advanced attacking closeouts. From there, he does not shy away from contact at the basket and uses his elite athleticism and body control to finish amongst the trees. He’ll go right at anyone standing between him and the rim, but he has also developed a reliable floater to keep rim protectors guessing.
As a playmaker, Mathurin is capable of making simple reads off of the dribble, always willing to take what the defense gives him. If there is too much focus on his ability to score, he shows patience to let plays develop before finding the best way to feed an open teammate.
And for how smooth he can be as a scorer with the ball in his hands, it’s his work off of the ball that impresses me the most.
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Mathurin is incredibly active with a high motor, always moving or cutting, making him a headache for opposing defenses. Because he is strong, athletic and physical when he attacks the basket, he has no problem making cuts that lead to tough finishes.
We saw that when he threw down the dunk of the tournament against TCU. The finish rightfully turned heads but it all started with his off-ball movement, anticipation and acute awareness.
It’s more than just that one play, though. He’s always finding open spaces off the ball. Whether it’s a timely backdoor cut for an easy bucket or running off of screens to free up a catch-and-shoot jumper, Mathurin is just as much trouble without the ball as he is with it.
Even though he projects as a combo guard, I see Mathurin thriving at the next level as more of a shooting guard than a point guard. His ability to create without the ball makes him easier to build around and also elevates his floor should he not hit as a No. 1 option.
He’s improving as a passer but he still has to fine-tune his handle, as he is more reliant on his first step and strength to get by defenders than he is a quick-twitch reactive dribbler to shake his man.
I have little doubt about Mathurin’s all-around offensive game translating and developing in the NBA, whereas, his defense could be what determines his ceiling as a pro.
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Bennedict Mathurin scouting report: defense
Mathurin has the tools to be a lockdown perimeter defender but isn’t always dialed in on that end of the floor. He tends to get too relaxed, coming out of his defensive stance (even if he’s the primary defender in certain actions like a pick-and-roll). It’s more of an effort thing than an actual inability to defend, which could be seen as a pro or a con.
When Mathurin is going toe-to-toe with some of the prolific scoring guards in the NBA, he’ll have no choice but give it his all in defending at a high level. He can be pesky and annoying on-ball and takes some risks off-ball, but he has a long way to go when it comes to defending endless pick-and-rolls at the next level.
Bennedict Mathurin NBA draft projection
Mathurin should be a top-10 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft and his March Madness run will only continue to improve his draft stock.
Playing with a must-win attitude as a fierce and fiery competitor, this stage is built for Mathurin to show off everything he has to offer as a prospect.
With a high-level performance in the Sweet 16 and beyond, the Arizona sophomore can potentially play his way into top-five consideration.
