Toronto native Dwight Powell ready to take the next step in his basketball career

TORONTO – When Dwight Powell headed off to Stanford in 2010 he made his mom, Jacqueline Weir, a promise.

When he was young she’d always stressed the importance of education and the value of getting a college degree, so in turn, he pledged not to pursue a career in the NBA until he graduated.

Four years later he holds a degree in science, technology and society and as it turns out his decision to remain at Stanford rather than take the fast track to the pros benefitted him on the court as well.

While he may have been selected in the first round of the NBA draft had he declared following a strong junior season in 2013 – he averaged 14.9 points and 8.4 rebounds per game that season – as a senior this past year the power forward helped lead Stanford to its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament in six years. And they made some noise too, upsetting New Mexico and Kansas, a team led by Andrew Wiggins, before being eliminated by Dayton in the Sweet 16. Powell was also named the Pac-12 men’s basketball scholar-athlete of the year.

Unfortunately his mom didn’t live to see his accomplishments.

Jacqueline Weir died of cancer nearly two years ago at just 53 years old, however, the example she set for her son while he was growing up has clearly paid dividends.

“She was a lifelong learner,” Powell said from the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto where he spent a few days earlier this week mentoring 60 of the top youth basketball players from Canada, Domincan Republic, Brazil, Argentina, Puerto Rico and Mexico at the FIBA Americas Team Camp. “She spent a lot of time taking extra classes at night; she worked so it was night classes and night school in subjects that didn’t always have to do with her profession.

“She always kind of instilled in me that it’s important to continue your education and better yourself throughout your entire life so, I mean, the first step for me was getting my college degree.”

Now, Powell’s focus is being put toward a new challenge.

In June, the 6-foot-11 Toronto native was drafted 45th overall by the Charlotte Hornets before having his draft rights traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers just two weeks later.

The trade to Cavaliers means Powell will have the chance to learn the ropes from, among others, the recently re-acquired LeBron James.

“I’ve obviously heard good things about him as a player, but also as a person, a teammate and a leader,” Powell said. “For a guy like me to be in the gym with him, watch how he works, watch his work ethic, pick up as much as I can from what he has to teach, it’s very valuable for me.”

While he also expressed excitement around the opportunity to play alongside fellow Canadian power forward Tristan Thompson – the two were teammates as teenagers with Grassroots Canada on the AAU circuit – and playing for a team that is expected to contend for an NBA title, a crowded Cavaliers frontcourt that includes Thompson, Anderson Varegao and Kevin Love (should the trade with Minnesota go down this weekend as expected) means Powell will have to fight for playing time in his rookie season.

“He’s at a young age right now where he’s trying to carve a niche as to what he can be,” said Jay Triano, the head coach of Canada’s senior men’s national team.

Powell spent three weeks with the SMNT in July taking part in exhibition games against some of Europe’s top competition.

“For our national team he brought a great amount of energy, I love the way he ran the floor [and] he picked up our defensive schemes well. I hope he can find a place in the NBA, [but with] second round picks there’s nothing really guaranteed.”

What does Triano think he needs to work on most to have success at the next level?

“I think his overall strength. He’s elusive, but he’s going to be playing against stronger players and he’s going to have to stay balanced when that happens and that will help him with his rebounding as well. And a consistent jump shot. You become a threat in the NBA when you can consistently make shots. What his range can be has yet to be determined, but he’s got to continually work on his jump shot and that’s no different than anybody else.”