5-foot-11 Mateen Rafiq is carrying on a family tradition of successful basketball while simultaneously changing positions from shooting guard to the point but neither responsibility is restricting him from continued accomplishments.
The family's hoops lineage begins with Mateen's father, Mamo, who played two years at Idaho State before transferring to UC Davis in order to be closer to home. But a car accident, followed by a pair of hip surgeries, concluded his playing days. In 2007, he became the head coach of the Afghanistan National Basketball Team and a short three years later, Afghanistan won the 2010 11th Annual South Asian Games, the Gold Medal being the first ever for Afghanistan Team Sports. "I got to see the awarding of the gold medal," Mateen recalled. He also has a 6-foot cousin Illyaas Rafiq who played at Yuba College and will be playing at Cal Maritime.
Production of Late
In a total of 12 games at a July national tournament in Atlanta and another in Las Vegas, Rafiq averaged 21.9 points per contest, 6.6 assists and 4.3 rebounds. He enjoyed a high game of 41 points.
Brandon White, co-founder of the Rose City Ballers (Rafiq's travel team), offered, "Mateen’s consistently played well all spring/summer and has generated a lot of attention from college coaches. It will be interesting to see where he lands. He is a high character individual and we absolutely love having him and his family in our program. His best basketball is in front of him."
After three years at El Camino High in Sacramento, Rafiq will be attending Weston Ranch High in Stockton as a senior. Also a valued member of the Rose City Ballers travel team, he continues his transition from primarily a shooter to a facilitator and scorer. "For the longest time, I was known as a shooter and a catch-and-shoot guy." In his last go-around at El Camino, he averaged 26.9 points per game, 7.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists, earning a Second Team All State selection by CalHiSports, while finishing with 271 made threes.
"I talked to Dad and we decided my role needed to change because there are a lot of 6-foot guards out there. I'm learning to be a true point guard, with the ball in my hands. I take this as a challenge to communicate and lead the team, while separating myself from other guys my size."
"My Dad has done a lot of training and (area high school) coaching and been a big help to me with his knowledge of the game. Nobody can push me like he does. His critiquing never stops, happening in the car after games and continuing when we get home."
Rafiq is not a big NBA viewer -- "I don't like to watch NBA games"—preferring to focus on well known college coaches such as Rick Pitino, John Calipari and Coach K and how they employ their talent. He also likes "the comaradarie involved with college ball and how collegians play more as a team."
Praise for His Mother
His mother is also a critical cog in his development. "My Mom is the biggest piece of all this, with all the sacrifices that are necessary and putting my needs before hers."
Rafiq also excels in the classroom with a 3.9 grade point average or above. "It really helps in case I want to go to a high academic college and in getting a job later."
He offered his best basketball moment as "my junior year at El Camino. There was a lot of doubt about us because we lost a couple of transfers but we still made the playoffs. Me and a teammate, Ivan Soto (now at American River College), both finished with over 1,000 career points. We've been best friends since we were little so it was a lot of fun."
Regarding recruiting, Rafiq offered "I'm wide open. I will be thankful wherever I end up whether it be D1, D2, D3, NAIA or junior college." Whatever his new destination, he'll continue to carry the family hoops banner while providing winning point guard and scoring talents.
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