Jamin Mathis of Sulphur recently had the opportunity to represent the United States on the international stage after being selected to play for Team Cadeau USA, a squad led by Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau, at the prestigious Matas Buzelis Cup in Vilnius, Lithuania.
The tournament, named after current Chicago Bulls player Matas Buzelis, was held at the NBA School in Vilnius and featured some of the top youth basketball programs from across Northern Europe. Team Cadeau USA finished with an impressive 4-1 record and captured the Silver Bracket Championship, with its only loss coming by a narrow margin to the eventual tournament champion.
Mathis, a member of the Class of 2033, competed in the U13 division. He is a student at Veritas Christian School in Sulphur.
Because European youth basketball is organized by calendar year rather than school grade classifications used in the United States, Mathis was one of the younger and smaller players on the court.
The tournament provided a unique challenge, as European basketball is known for its physical style of play. Games were conducted under rules similar to Spain’s Liga ACB, one of Europe’s premier professional leagues. Following a whistle, players could immediately retrieve the ball and inbound without waiting for an official to administer play, creating a fastpaced environment with fewer interruptions.
In addition, games consisted of six seven-minute quarters, and players were required to remain on the court for an entire quarter. No substitutions were allowed until the sixth quarter, the format demanded a high level of conditioning, toughness, and endurance.
Mathis joined seven teammates from New Jersey and fellow Oklahoman Chris Brown Jr. of Edmond. Brown is the son of Byng High School alumnus and recent Hall of Fame inductee Chris Brown.
Throughout the tournament, Team Cadeau USA competed against some of the strongest youth programs in Northern Europe while gaining valuable international experience and exposure to a different style of basketball.
Official tournament statistics for Mathis and Brown were recorded throughout the event, although tournament organizers often stopped tracking statistics once games reached certain scoring margins, meaning the posted numbers may not fully reflect player contributions.
For Mathis, the experience provided an opportunity to compete against elite international competition while proudly representing both Oklahoma and the United States on a global stage.
