Benn Mathurin Scouting Report: Stats, NBA Draft Ranking, Highlights, Comparison

Benn Mathurin ranks as one of the best wing/guard prospects in the 2022 NBA Draft after improving his stats in almost every way during his sophomore year campaign at Arizona. At 6-foot-6 with a plus wingspan, Mathurin has the size and length to make it as an NBA player. When you factor in his accurate shooting from deep and explosive athleticism, he instantly becomes a lottery pick, which is absolutely where he should go in this upcoming draft.

Benn Mathurin Scouting Report

Benn Mathurin’s obvious combination of elite explosion and vertical athleticism, three-point shooting, and defensive prowess make him a candidate to be a starting wing/guard for the foreseeable future. Mathurin’s upside is not capped there either; he could turn into an All-Star caliber player if his playmaking, dribbling, and shot creation improve during his time in the NBA.

Age: 19
Height: 6’6”
Weight: 204.6 lbs
Wingspan: 6’9”
Position: SG
College: Arizona

Strengths: Despite a slight regression in his shooting percentages from the field and from deep, Mathurin is an excellent shooter. He had to take more responsibility within the Arizona offense this past season, which meant his shot difficulty also increased. Mathurin projects as a defender who could potentially guard 1-4 if he puts on a bit of weight due to his length, quickness, and functional strength. There were also several moments throughout the season where Mathurin displayed unbelievable athleticism that “wowed” even the most avid Arizona fans. Mathurin’s a terrific prospect with great shooting mechanics and already has a high floor for a wing prospect.

Weaknesses: Mathurin’s most significant weaknesses revolve around his ball-handling and playmaking for others off the dribble. These are weaknesses that, if not resolved, still lead to Mathurin having a solid floor for an NBA starter due to his shooting and athleticism. Regardless, Mathurin is still relatively young and has plenty of time to develop into that role at the next level. There were glimpses of this at Arizona; he has to keep working on that part of his game if he wants to be an All-Star-caliber player.

Benn Mathurin Stats

Benn Mathurin NBA Draft Ranking, Team Fit, Landing Spot

Draft Ranking: 11

Team Fit: Benn Mathurin would fit in really well on a team like the Indiana Pacers, where he could work on improving his game alongside a young core that’s trying to rebuild. Mathurin would join Chris Duarte and Tyrese Haliburton in a backcourt with a ton of upside. Realistically, Mathurin would be able to get a lot of shots up and work on his offensive game in Indiana because Haliburton is a pass-first point guard, and the Pacers don’t have any true No. 1 scoring options; they will likely be trading Malcolm Brogdon this off-season. Other potential fits that would work well would be the Portland Trail Blazers and the New Orleans Pelicans.

Landing Spot: Mathurin’s landing spot should be anywhere from sixth to eleventh overall in the 2022 NBA Draft. It is hard to imagine him dropping any further than that due to his high floor as a 3-and-D prospect at the next level with extraordinary athleticism. The Indiana Pacers could snag Mathurin with the sixth pick if Jaden Ivey, Jabari Smith Jr, Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero, and Keegan Murray are off the board. If the Pacers don’t grab him at six, I could see the Portland Trail Blazers or New Orleans Pelicans pulling the trigger at seven or eight, respectively. The most likely outcome is that he goes between sixth and eighth, but weird things can happen on draft night.

Benn Mathurin NBA Comparison: Quentin Richardson/J.R. Smith

There are quite a few solid NBA comparisons for Benn Mathurin, including J.R. Smith, Quentin Richardson, and Terrence Ross. Each of those players was more than a capable three-point shooter and a high-flying athlete. Smith and Richardson were both big-time athletes off of two feet and moved very similarly to Benn Mathurin. The one significant difference in Mathurin’s game is that I could see him being an elite defender at the next level, which would certainly help him take his game to the next level.

Benn Mathurin Highlights

Take a look at the video below to see some of Mathurin’s best highlights of the season and his perceived strengths and weaknesses. You will quickly find out why Mathurin is a lottery pick “lock” in the 2022 NBA Draft. Mathurin’s strengths and weaknesses are not all 100% objective, so consider that some of what is listed in this article, and the highlight reel may not be how everyone views Mathurin as a prospect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MiUroAaWtM