{{short description|Brazilian basketball player (born 2008)}} {{Portuguese name|Vazquez|dos Santos}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Mathias Vazquez | image = | image_size = | caption = | position = Forward | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 8 | weight_lbs = | league = Tercera FEB | team = Real Betis Baloncesto B | number = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2008|3|26}} | birth_place = Brazil | draft_year = | career_start = | years1 = 2023– | team1 = Real Betis Baloncesto B | highlights = | medal_templates = {{MedalSport|Men's basketball}} {{MedalCountry|{{bk|BRA}}}} {{MedalCompetition|South American Under-15 Championship}} {{MedalGold|2022 Argentina|Team}} }} '''Mathias Alessanco Vazquez dos Santos''' (born 26 March 2008) is a Brazilian professional basketball player for Real Betis Baloncesto B of the Tercera FEB, as well as the Brazil national team. He is considered one of the top international prospects for the 2026 NBA draft.
Vazquez made his first appearance for the Brazil senior national team in 2024 at the age of 16, becoming the nation's youngest debutant ever.
==Youth career== Vazquez grew up watching his father's basketball games with his mother and brother, and thus began playing the sport at a young age. By the age of 11, he was {{cvt|1.75|m}} tall.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.midianews.com.br/cotidiano/cuiabano-e-um-dos-maiores-reboteiros-da-historia-da-liga-nacional/348258|title=Cuiabano é um dos maiores reboteiros da história da liga nacional|first=Bruna|last=Barbosa|work=MidiaNews|date=21 April 2019|access-date=11 July 2025|language=pt}}</ref> Vazquez was developed in the youth academies of Bauru, Minas, and S.C. Corinthians Paulista.<ref name="ANG">{{cite web|url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/players/mathias-vazquez/profile/013598/|title=Mathias Vazquez Profile|publisher=Adidas NextGen EuroLeague|access-date=11 July 2025}}</ref> In May 2022, he was invited to a Jr. NBA Elite Camp held in São Paulo.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://ge.globo.com/basquete/nba/noticia/2022/05/19/nba-anuncia-realizacao-de-jr-elite-camp-em-sao-paulo.ghtml|title= NBA anuncia realização de Jr. Elite Camp em São Paulo|website=ge.globo.com|publisher=Globo|date=19 May 2022|access-date=11 July 2025|language=pt}}</ref>
Vazquez moved to Spain for the 2022–23 season, joining the Real Betis youth setup.<ref name=ANG/> In 2023, he led the Real Betis ''cadete'' (under-16) team to an appearance in the Andalusian provincial final, where they lost to Málaga.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deportedelaisla.com/2023-04-23/baloncesto/unicaja-gana-otra-vez-san-fernando-batir-real-betis-final-86-82|title=El Unicaja gana otra vez en San Fernando tras batir al Real Betis en una gran final.|first=Gaby|last=Cumbreras|work=Deporte de la Isla|date=23 April 2023|access-date=11 July 2025|language=es}}</ref> In 2024, Vazquez helped the ''cadete'' team to an Andalusian championship title and a third-place finish at the Spanish National Championship.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deportedelaisla.com/2024-04-29/baloncesto/el-real-betis-doblega-unicaja-final-andaluz-cadete-san-fernando|title=El Real Betis doblega al Unicaja en la final del Andaluz cadete en San Fernando (65-58)|first=Gaby|last=Cumbreras|work=Deporte de la Isla|date=29 April 2024|access-date=11 July 2025|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deportedelaisla.com/2024-05-25/baloncesto/el-fc-barcelona-acaba-reinado-real-madrid-san-fernando-70-67|title=El FC Barcelona acaba con el reinado del Real Madrid cadete en San Fernando (70-67)|first=Gaby|last=Cumbreras|work=Deporte de la Isla|date=25 May 2024|access-date=11 July 2025|language=es}}</ref> He also played for the ''junior'' (under-18) team,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.feb.es/Documentos/Archivo/upload/PLANTILLAS%20JUNIOR%20MASCULINO%202024.pdf|title=Plantillas Junior Masculino 2024|publisher=Spanish Basketball Federation|access-date=12 July 2025|language=es}}</ref> which placed second at the Andalusian championships.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://anoreta.novaschool.es/campeonato-andalucia-2024/|title= El CB Novaschool consigue la medalla de bronce en el Campeonato de Andalucía 2024|publisher=Novaschool Añoreta|date=15 April 2024|access-date=12 July 2025|language=es}}</ref> In 2025, Vazquez led the ''junior'' team to an Andalusian provincial title, scoring 32 points in a 98–93 win over Coria in the final.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.solobasket.com/primera-feb/gran-perla-cantera-real-betis-baloncesto-vuelve-exhibirse|title=La gran perla de la cantera del Real Betis Baloncesto vuelve a exhibirse|first=Hugo|last=Fernández Prieto|work=Solobasket|date=15 March 2025|access-date=12 July 2025|language=es}}</ref>
At the European level, Vazquez helped the U18 Next Gen Team Munich win the 2024–25 Adidas NextGen EuroLeague Munich tournament, recording 19 points and six rebounds in a 100–88 win over Valencia in the first-place game. He earned all-tournament honors after averaging 9.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.2 blocks per game.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.euroleaguebasketball.net/en/ngt/news/arminas-vilkas-takes-home-mvp-for-next-gen-team/|title=Arminas Vilkas takes home MVP for Next Gen team|publisher=Adidas NextGen EuroLeague|date=19 January 2025|access-date=11 July 2025}}</ref> Later that year, Vazquez played for Team Next Gen at the Adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy, where he averaged 11 points and 3.7 rebounds per game on 75 percent shooting from the field, drawing praise for his efficiency.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbascoutinglive.com/our-picks-for-the-2025-all-adidas-eurocamp-teams/|title=Our Picks for the 2025 All-Adidas Eurocamp Teams|work=NBA Scouting Live|date=3 June 2025|access-date=11 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.si.com/nba/draft/newsfeed/2025-adidas-eurocamp-day-1-recap|title=2025 adidas Eurocamp: Day 1 Recap|first=Nick|last=Crain|work=NBA Draft on SI|publisher=SI.com|date=1 June 2025|access-date=11 July 2025}}</ref> Still just 17 years old, he one of the youngest participants at the event and was given a Rising Star award along with Bruce Branch III.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nbl.com.au/news/next-stars-make-their-mark-in-treviso|title=Next Stars make their mark in Treviso|publisher=National Basketball League|date=3 June 2025|access-date=11 July 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250611023503/https://nbl.com.au/news/next-stars-make-their-mark-in-treviso|archive-date=11 June 2025|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="unicornio">{{cite news|url=https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/colunas/gustavinho-lima/2025/06/03/unicornio-brasileiro-mathias-alessanco-e-eleito-rising-star-no-eurocamp.htm|title='Unicórnio brasileiro', Mathias Alessanco é eleito Rising Star no Eurocamp|first=Gustavinho|last=Lima|work=Universo Online|date=3 June 2025|access-date=11 July 2025|language=pt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250603165724/https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/colunas/gustavinho-lima/2025/06/03/unicornio-brasileiro-mathias-alessanco-e-eleito-rising-star-no-eurocamp.htm|archive-date=3 June 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> Soon afterwards, Vazquez attended the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He was just the second South American player ever invited to the event, following Leandro Bolmaro.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mpcrio.com/2025/06/10/entre-os-melhores-do-mundo-mathias-alessanco-e-o-primeiro-brasileiro-a-participar-do-top-100-camp-da-nbpa/|title=Entre os melhores do mundo: Mathias Alessanco é o primeiro brasileiro a participar do Top 100 Camp, da NBPA|work=MPC Rio Comunicação|date=10 June 2025|access-date=11 July 2025|language=pt}}</ref>
==Professional career== In 2023–24, Vazquez made his debut for the Real Betis reserves in the fourth-tier Liga EBA.<ref name=ANG/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.deportedelaisla.com/2023-10-17/baloncesto/el-cimbis-pierde-casa-penarroya-56-93-cb-san-fernando-gana-real-betis-54-76|title=El Cimbis pierde en casa con el Peñarroya (56-93) y el CB San Fernando gana al Real Betis (54-76)|first=Gaby|last=Cumbreras|work=Deporte de la Isla|date=17 October 2023|access-date=11 July 2025|language=es}}</ref> He averaged 9.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 23 games played that season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://competiciones.feb.es/estadisticas/jugador/921679/2618452|title=Estadísticas Personales {{!}} 2023/24 Liga EBA|publisher=Spanish Basketball Federation|access-date=11 July 2025|language=es}}</ref> In 2024–25, Vazquez averaged 17.7 points, eight rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 20 games in the renamed Tercera FEB.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://baloncestoenvivo.feb.es/jugador/952554/2618452|title=Estadísticas Personales {{!}} 2024/25 Liga EBA|publisher=Spanish Basketball Federation|access-date=12 July 2025|language=es}}</ref> He also began training with the Real Betis first team under head coach {{ill|Gonzalo García de Vitoria|es}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.es/deportes/sevilla/nuevo-triangulo-ejecutivo-betis-baloncesto-grupo-hereda-20240905150901-nts.html|title=El nuevo triángulo ejecutivo del Betis Baloncesto con el Grupo Hereda|first=Sergio A.|last=Ávila|work=ABC|date=5 September 2024|access-date=12 July 2025|language=es}}</ref> However, Vazquez was unable to debut with the first team due to passport issues.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.solobasket.com/primera-feb/gonzalo-garcia-joven-perla-real-betis-baloncesto-no-es-problema-no-queramos-es-no-puede|title=Sobre la perla del Real Betis Baloncesto: “No es que no queramos, es que no puede”|first=Hugo|last=Fernández Prieto|work=Solobasket|date=8 February 2025|access-date=12 July 2025|language=es}}</ref>
Vazquez is considered one of the top international prospects for the 2026 NBA draft.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://umhoops.com/2025/06/18/michigan-hosts-elite-brazilian-forward-for-official-visit/|title=Michigan hosts elite Brazilian forward for official visit|first=Dylan|last=Burkhardt|website=UMHoops.com|date=18 June 2025|access-date=12 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurohopes.com/rankings/2008|title=Eurohopes Basketball Prospects - Ranking 2008|publisher=Eurohopes|access-date=12 July 2025}}</ref>
==National team career== ===Junior national team=== Vazquez represented the Brazil national under-15 team at the 2022 FIBA U15 South American Championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He averaged 1.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game as Brazil beat hosts Argentina in the final to capture the gold medal.<ref name="FIBA">{{cite web|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/en/players/330045-mathias-vazquez|title=Mathias Vazquez (Brazil)|publisher=FIBA|access-date=12 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbb.com.br/noticia/3671/brasil-e-campeao-invicto-do-sul-americano-sub-15-masculino|title= Brasil é campeão invicto do Sul-Americano Sub-15 masculino|publisher=Brazilian Basketball Confederation|date=20 November 2022|access-date=12 July 2025|language=pt}}</ref> The following year, Vazquez played for the national under-16 team at the 2023 FIBA Under-16 Americas Championship in Mexico, where he averaged 6.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game.<ref name=FIBA/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbb.com.br/noticia/3997/brasil-define-os-12-da-selecao-sub-16-masculina-e-estreia-na-copa-america-na-segunda|title=Brasil define os 12 da Seleção Sub-16 masculina e estreia na Copa América na segunda|publisher=Brazilian Basketball Confederation|date=3 June 2023|access-date=12 July 2025|language=pt}}</ref> He next played for the national under-18 team at the 2024 FIBA Under-18 AmeriCup in Argentina, where he averaged a team-high 12 points per game and ranked second in both rebounds (5.2) and assists (2.8) per game.<ref name="ventana">{{cite news|url=https://basquetplus.com/ventana-fiba-mathias-alessanco-brasil-promesa-juventud-convocado-real-betis-analisis-informe|title=Mathías Alessanco, la promesa que se estrenará en Brasil en la Ventana FIBA|work=Básquet Plus|date=2 November 2024|access-date=12 July 2025|language=es}}</ref> Vazquez tallied a team-high 20 points and seven rebounds in a 71–57 win over Puerto Rico in the classification round.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/en/history/256-fiba-u18-americup/208738/games/118127-BRA-PUR|title=Brazil vs Puerto Rico - Class. 5-8 - FIBA U18 AmeriCup 2024|publisher=FIBA|access-date=12 July 2025}}</ref>
===Senior national team=== In June 2024, Vazquez was invited to attend the Brazil senior national team training camp in Blumenau ahead of their FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. National team head coach Aleksandar Petrović called him a "pleasant surprise" and "the future".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.es/deportes/alfinaldelapalmera/noticias-betis/mathias-vazquez-cadete-betis-baloncesto-entrena-seleccion-20240615165650-nts.html|title=Mathias Vazquez, el cadete del Betis Baloncesto que se entrena con la selección absoluta de Brasil|first=Sergio A.|last=Ávila|work=ABC|date=15 June 2024|access-date=12 July 2025|language=es}}</ref> That October, Vazquez was named to the final 13-man roster for a pair of 2025 FIBA AmeriCup qualifiers against Uruguay and Panama.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbb.com.br/noticia/4715/brasil-define-grupo-para-jogos-contra-uruguai-e-panama-em-belem-pelas-eliminatorias-da-americup-2025|title= Brasil define grupo para jogos contra Uruguai e Panamá em Belém pelas Eliminatórias da Americup 2025|publisher=Brazilian Basketball Confederation|date=31 October 2024|access-date=12 July 2025|language=pt}}</ref> He made his senior international debut on 24 November 2024, recording two points, three rebounds, and a steal in 14 minutes in a 93–67 win over Panama. At 16 years old, Vazquez became the youngest player to ever appear for the Brazil senior national team.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.fiba.basketball/es/events/fiba-americup-2025-qualifiers/news/15-rising-young-players-who-left-their-mark-in-window-2|title=15 jóvenes en ascenso que dejaron su huella en la Ventana 2 de los Clasificatorios al FIBA AmeriCup 2025|publisher=FIBA|date=30 November 2024|access-date=12 July 2025|language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://cbb.com.br/noticia/4736/brasil-bate-o-panama-e-fecha-100-janela-das-eliminatorias-da-americup|title=Brasil bate o Panamá e fecha 100% janela das Eliminatórias da Americup|publisher=Brazilian Basketball Confederation|date=24 November 2024|access-date=12 July 2025|language=pt}}</ref> In January 2025, he earned another call-up for the final window of 2025 FIBA AmeriCup qualification.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://cbb.com.br/noticia/4766/com-yago-e-caboclo-brasil-e-convocado-para-ultimos-jogos-das-eliminatorias-da-americup-diante-de-uruguai-e-panama|title= Com Yago e Caboclo, Brasil é convocado para últimos jogos das Eliminatórias da Americup diante de Uruguai e Panamá|publisher=Brazilian Basketball Confederation|date=28 January 2025|access-date=12 July 2025|language=pt}}</ref>
==Personal life== Vazquez's father, Shilton, was a three-time NBB champion and the league's third all-time leading rebounder, while his mother, Geórgia, was a volleyball player.<ref name=unicornio/><ref name=ventana/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Mathias-Alessanco-Vazquez/Summary/217128 Mathias Vazquez] at RealGM
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vazquez, Mathias}} Category:Living people Category:2008 births Category:Brazilian men's basketball players <!-- Category:Brazil men's national basketball team players --> Category:Forwards (basketball) Category:Brazilian expatriate basketball people in Spain