Basketball New Zealand

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One Canada international that is building up a full head of steam ahead of the FIBA World Championship for Men in Turkey is Andy Rautins of Syracuse University.

The fifth-year senior has helped fire the Orange to the number one ranking in the land and on Tuesday night, the sharpshooting guard played his last-ever home game with the school.

He drilled four of nine shots from long range and finished with 14 points in Syracuse’s 85-66 demolition of St John’s at the Carrier Dome.

Rautins, whose Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim is an assistant with Team USA, also had seven assists, two rebounds and a steal as Syracuse clinched the Big East Regular Season title.

“I really couldn’t think of a better way to go out,” said Rautins. “We’re not going to be satisfied just yet.”

While he’s hoping to make it in the NBA, Rautins is also looking to make a statement with his country when they go up against Spain, Lithuania, France, New Zealand and Lebanon in Group D of the FIBA World Championship.

Rautins’ father, Leo, who also played at Syracuse and was on hand to watch his son play against St John’s, is the coach of Canada.