CAN - Rautins now the experienced one

TORONTO (FIBA Americas Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - It doesn't seem that long ago that Andy Rautins was the sharpshooting guard who showed up for Canada national team duty while a budding star at Syracuse.

His last season of college ball with the Orangemen was in 2009-10 and shortly after, he was a second round draft pick of the New York Knicks.

Now, in 2013 and with Canada brimming with young talent, Rautins is a 27-year-old "veteran" and judging from his performance in the second game of the Jack Donohue International Classic against Jamaica, a very important one at that.

Rautins poured in eight of his 11 points in the fourth quarter as the Canadians won the second encounter, 77-72.

"As a leader on the team, as an older veteran on the team, that's the role I need to play," Rautins said.

"To bring that energy, to bring that shooting. That's what we did and we gutted it out and got a great win."

Rautins' NBA career may not have taken off as he'd hoped it would, with the player spending 2011-12 with Alicante in Spain before returning for the 2012-13 campaign to America and playing for Tulsa in the NBDL.

His biggest weapon, the three-point shot, is giving Rautins a chance to return to the NBA.

Despite having reconstructive knee surgery during his time at Syracuse, which led to his redshirting a season, the shooting touch has never left Rautins.

Earlier this year, he buried enough long ones to win the three-point shootout during the NBDL All-Star Game.

This summer, he played in Summer League with the Chicago Bulls and now he's with Canada, preparing for the FIBA Americas Championship in Caracas where he hopes to help the national team qualify for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

He is also putting himself in the shop window because there will be a lot of professional scouts on hand.

Playing for Canada always means that Rautins has to make adjustments.

"Having played in the NBA, having played overseas, it's like a different world," Rautins said.

"The international game, it's like another world. It's almost like a rugby match out there."

One player that should help Canada cope with the physicality of the FIBA Americas Championship is Cleveland Cavaliers forward Tristan Thompson.

The power forward had 16 points and 10 rebounds in that victory over Jamaica.

"Offensive rebounding is huge for him," Rautins said.

"It's what he does. He makes a lot of money doing that. We're going to need him to do that for us game in and game out.

"He's done a great job of improving his hook game. Even switching to his right hand, he's still knocking down shots."

If Rautins is hitting his shots and Thompson plays up to his potential, Canada will have two important weapons in Caracas at the FIBA Americas Championship, which tips off 30 August.

Canada need a top-four finish to clinch a spot in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

FIBA