Anthony Bennett struggled in his first NBA season with the Cavaliers after showing up to training camp overweight. (Gregory Shamus/NBAE via Getty Images)

Dear Andre,

First off, I want to congratulate you on your success at the NCAA championships, Pan Am Games and world championships this past summer.

Although we haven’t met, I watched you and was cheering you on. It’s always great to see fellow Canadians triumph!

I hope you have had a chance for it to all soak in now that you’re back at USC. I know you are about to head in to a really critical time in your life and athletic career, something I can identify with, and I thought I could share a little advice and insight based on my personal experience.

I was flying high when the Cleveland Cavaliers selected me as the first overall pick of the 2013 NBA Draft, but I was about to go through the biggest test of my life. It has been a challenge I could not have anticipated, but I have learned some incredibly important things about life along the way, and for that I am grateful.

Most importantly, be extremely selective in who you let in your life. Your family and your friends are your lifeline, your support group and your biggest cheerleaders. Look for those people who have been there from the start, when you were just a kid from the neighbourhood, not a superstar athlete. Keep an eye out for those that are there for the wrong reason, just looking to enjoy the ride.