Team Jalen won the Rising Stars Challenge and Indiana native Bennedict Mathurin took home the MVP trophy. Talking to the press after the victory, Mathurin revealed where his accolades all stay. And the answer is quite heartwarming.

His sister Jennifer Mathurin’s house is where all of Benedict’s medals and trophies rest. He had said once that it was his sister’s love for basketball that got him interested in the sport, as well.

Landing 18 points in the first matchup against Team Tamika, he led the team in a balanced approach to defeat Team Detlef 26-13. His second time on a winning team in the Rising Stars challenge, the Pacers guard is a rising star in the NBA. With all the awards and honors that point to a superstar in the making, the victory was extra special, as he got to do it in front of the home crowd.

But most importantly, the Canadian native got to bring that trophy to his sister. The bond that the Mathurin siblings share was forged through the toughest of battles. And she continues to impact Bennedict’s life.

Who is Bennedict Mathurin’s sister?

Jennifer Mathurin has been the constant in her little brother’s life and a true inspiration for his choice of career. In an interview with Marc J. Spear of the Andscape, the Pac-12 player of the year details all about his sister. Jennifer loved basketball with all her heart. She still does. Having started playing at age six, she was soon a part of the North Carolina University team.

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The eldest Mathurin sibling has also played professionally in Finland and Australia. Aside from a sister, Bennedict also had a brother, Dominique Jeune Mathurin. Both of them fell in love with the game thanks to their sister. Unfortunately, a terrible tragedy befell the already struggling family. On September 30, 2014, they lost Dominique at the tender age of 15 to a head injury suffered from a car accident.

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That was the turning point in their life. Mathurin and his mother moved in with Jennifer’s youth basketball coach to a safer neighborhood. It was from there that Jenn’s little brother grew to be the 6’5 210-pound young man that he is now. Seeing as how Bennedict had a future in the NBA after moving to Mexico City, Jennifer felt it best to use her professional experience and skills to help develop her brother’s career.

“She has sacrificed everything in life,” Mathurin said. He goes on to give an example of just how far his sister was willing to go for her brothers’ success. “When she was in college, she talked about leaving college to work just so we could have a little bit of money.”

That was the kind of woman the Rising Stars MVP grew up with. There is no doubt that he will continue to grow and put in the same hard work that got him to this level. Because Bennedict Mathurin’s success is not just his. It belongs to his sister and their late brother.

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