INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Anthony Bennetts path to the NBA began on a couple of basketball courts in north Torontos hardscrabble neighbourhood of Jane and Finch, and was paved by a mom who takes hard work to an entirely different level. The 20-year-old Bennett made history on Thursday when he became the first Canadian selected No. 1 overall in the NBA draft. And when he was introduced by the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Friday, Bennett and his mom talked about a journey that may have seemed improbable. But to them, nothings impossible. "Anyone who sets a goal for themselves and wants to achieve it, you work hard, you can accomplish anything," Edith Bennett said. "So thats what he did." Basketball for Bennett began as a way to keep busy in Jane and Finch, a neighbourhood that has a notorious reputation for its poverty, guns and drugs. "Jane and Finch is what they say is a ghetto but its not," Edith Bennett said. "It depends on the individual. You could grow up in the worst part of the community, that wont stop you. It depends on the person." The single mom moved the family to Brampton when Bennett was 10 to give them a "better life" and get him away from certain friends All the while, Edith Bennett was working two full time nursing jobs, beginning her days at 7 a.m. at a Toronto rehab hospital, and finishing at 11 at night at a psychiatric facility. Her work ethic obviously rubbed off on her son. "Hes a hard worker," Edith said. "Its in the family because I am a hard worker and he saw me work hard and then he said he wanted to do the same, so it motivated him to never stop working, push to the extreme and achieve what he wants." There were no basketball courts where they moved to in Brampton, a newer community of just houses and dirt lots. So it wasnt until six or seven years ago, when his mom signed him up for a club, that he began taking the sport seriously. "I just started growing," Bennett said, through a wide grin. "And everyone said, You should probably play basketball. So I said, All right. Ill give it a shot. Look where it got me now." Look indeed. The six-foot-seven power forward from UNLV topped fellow Brampton native Tristan Thompson -- they grew up less than five minutes from each other -- for top Canadian. Thompson went fourth overall two years ago, also to Cleveland. "Canada basketball is really on the rise right now," Cavs general manager Chris Grant said. "I have a feeling there will be another Canadian picked rather high next year too (Andrew Wiggins). "So theyve done a nice job, kids have grown and become talented, and were excited to be part of that. Tristan has grown amazingly the last two years and we expect Anthony to do the same thing." Bennetts accomplishment comes in the midst of heady days for Canadian basketball, with Wiggins being touted as the top pick next year -- and more where Wiggins came from. "Its huge," Bennetts agent Mike George said on Thursday nights historical event. "It just shows how far weve come. Weve come from a hockey country, and having this growth within basketball, and you can see by the different guys who are successful in college, and obviously by the pros who are in the NBA now, and this is kind of the pinnacle part where youve got a No. 1 draft pick, first time in Canadian history. "And that could be repeated next year, which is incredible." Bennett, who was the Mountain West Conference player of the year and averaged 16.1 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Runnin Rebels, said his strengths are his versatility, his rebounding and his unselfishness. Hes a decent dunker too. The Canadian laughed when asked about a list he used to keep of players hed dunked on. "I just though it was pretty fun to do," Bennett said. "It was between me and my friends growing up in Canada. It went up every game, every game, it kept going. I think I gave it to a year and a half, until I got to like 100. Then I stopped." Hes looking forward to playing alongside Thompson -- although theres a chance he could wind up being the other Canadians backup. "I feel like me and Tristan will become best friends," Bennett said. "Hes going to be my go-to guy just because hes from Canada. Im sure there are lot more guys on that team I can go to, but just because even if Im here in Cleveland or back home in Brampton, I can talk to him anywhere I am." Both Brampton players attended Findlay Prep in Las Vegas, Bennetts mom sending him to the elite basketball school when he was just 16. "To let your son leave, it was very hard, very difficult," Edith Bennett said. Shes happy shell finally be able to make most of his games. "Just a four-hour drive," she said, smiling. Edith Bennett still works two nursing jobs, but only one of them is fulltime now. "Im not going to stop," she said. "I like working, taking care of patients and to see the expression on their face when you do something nice for them." For Anthony Bennett, the next few months will be continuing his gruelling rehab from his shoulder surgery in May. Bennett will miss summer league, but is expected to be back in time for training camp. As for his mom, she still works two nursing jobs, one full-time and the other part-time. Cheap Shoes Online Free Delivery .C. -- Calgarys Kevin Koe did it the hard way again. Wholesale Shoes China Free Shipping . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. http://www.clearanceshoescheap.com/ . Here are his mid-season NBA awards. MVP: (KEVIN DURANT-Thunder) - Has been sensational this season and more importantly, the most consistent player in the league. 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It was Browns 61st career victory, and he increased his points lead over Doug Kalitta to 150 points.We had a great drag race out there, Brown said. It couldve went either way. We were both close on the tree, but we snuck one out there. Nobody is blowing people out anymore. The only way you win is by inches. To win that final was monumental for our team. We needed to do that. Were still not done working yet.Matt Hagan won in Funny Car, Drew Skillman in Pro Sttock and Eddie Krawiec in Pro Stock Motorcycle in the fourth race of the six-event NHRA Mello Yello Countdown to the Championship playoffs.ddddddddddddHagan pushed his Dodge Charger R/T to a 3.913 at 327.03 to beat points leader Ron Capps. Hagan has four victories this year and 22 overall.Skillman had a 6.661 at 209.36 in a Chevrolet Camaro to knock off Alex Laughlin. Skillman also won this year in Minnesota.Krawiec rode his Harley-Davidson to a 6.880 at 196.36 to edge Jerry Savoie. Krawiec took the points lead with his fifth victory of the season and 36th overall. ' ' '