2026 Recruiting

Verdad

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We were also late to the transfer game even in the old system where players sat a year. Transfers started shooting up and we wouldn't really pursue that much. Teams were starting to have 2 or 3 transfers by like year 4 of Paulsen.

While replacing 9-11 players is probably not sustainable (and lets face it, not fun either), if Mason can keep it more to 5-7 I think that would be good. In fact, the way Tony was able to keep some guys from year 1 that are key for us (Maddox, Billups, Haynes) is pretty good. If we can continue to run a chunk of the team in continuity for 2 years I'd take that as a win. It all goes back to the "trying to target and retain guys who can stick for 2-3 years". I think thats a nice compromise and ideal goal in this weird era.
Agree, I hit rock bottom after Okojie left last year but it led to me totally resetting my expectations and now I 1) hope we can keep guys like Maddox last year, and Haynes this/next year but knowing they very well may not be back, and 2) being excited about incoming transfers, and 3) maybe we will get some HS kids good enough to play that Power5 doesn't take b/c of their transfers in.

The pro and con is that you can replace just as much as you lose, but it is really hard to keep a core together and you can be really good one year with lots of players able to return the next only to see a mass exodus and become a bottom feeder.

But going from a bottom feeder to a contender is just as doable.

It appears Tony excels at building a culture and recruiting guys that fit that culture, for the most part. I think that helped keep Maddox, and will help keep top players like him that are offered more to transfer up.

A10 is a great spot to get transfers down and transfers up, so our potential talent pool is almost the entire rest of the Country, not a bad place to be. Thankfully we are not in the CAA.
 

mkaufman1

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Agree, I hit rock bottom after Okojie left last year but it led to me totally resetting my expectations and now I 1) hope we can keep guys like Maddox last year, and Haynes this/next year but knowing they very well may not be back, and 2) being excited about incoming transfers, and 3) maybe we will get some HS kids good enough to play that Power5 doesn't take b/c of their transfers in.

The pro and con is that you can replace just as much as you lose, but it is really hard to keep a core together and you can be really good one year with lots of players able to return the next only to see a mass exodus and become a bottom feeder.

But going from a bottom feeder to a contender is just as doable.

It appears Tony excels at building a culture and recruiting guys that fit that culture, for the most part. I think that helped keep Maddox, and will help keep top players like him that are offered more to transfer up.

A10 is a great spot to get transfers down and transfers up, so our potential talent pool is almost the entire rest of the Country, not a bad place to be. Thankfully we are not in the CAA.
With you 100%. The last statement hits spot on and what I always think about. The A10 is perfect because you get the kids who don't perform at a P5 or want more of a role and can step down (think Castro at GW, Maddox) and you also get kids who maybe want a step up (O'connor).

And perhaps you get lucky and you still can get someone who is longer term. I'm hopeful that Austin Ball will finish all 4 years which would be great.
 
With you 100%. The last statement hits spot on and what I always think about. The A10 is perfect because you get the kids who don't perform at a P5 or want more of a role and can step down (think Castro at GW, Maddox) and you also get kids who maybe want a step up (O'connor).

And perhaps you get lucky and you still can get someone who is longer term. I'm hopeful that Austin Ball will finish all 4 years which would be great.
Agree. And hope Ball will actually play here someday. The little sample that was his freshman year showed some flashes, but he never seemed to get much PT. Love to see him attack the basket more which would Make him a coverage nightmare since we know he can shoot 3's.
 

NewPatriot

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Assuming Mason can keep Haynes, Emejuru and O'connor, skinn needs to reload his perimeter with the departure of Maddox, Billups, Johnson and Anderson.

Skinn said in his interview last week that he looks at previous highly recruited dc área prospects that didn't work out at their power 5 schools on the transfer portal.. here are 3 that would fit the bill this coming spring:

Deshawn Harris Smith (Maryland), Jonathan Lamothe(Maryland/NC AT)
Greg Jones(American)

DHS - minutes reduced at MD..maybe overrecruited and hits the portal..helluva defensive player and can run the offense.

Lamothe got no burn at UMD but transferred over to NC A&T and is tearing up the CAA.

Greg Jones is a winner and has become a primary reason that American is poised to win the Patriot league regular season championship.
Lamothe has popped up


Skinn is following him on X and Lamothe reposted Billups DPOY on his X feed!

 
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Patriotsince81

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Good numbers offensively in regards to points per game but not very efficient. 37.2% from the floor. 29.4% from 3. 75.8% from the line. Assist/turnover ratio is not good. The team was horrible. I'm thinking we can do better.

NC A&T lost by 22 in the opening round of CAA tourney play. He scored 21 points on 8-27 shooting and 2-13 from 3. 2 assists and 5 turnovers. Not going to judge the young man on one game but his season numbers show the inconsistencies.



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSin6Am4U2Y
 
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NewPatriot

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@Patriotsince81

i agree. Lawmothe's efficiency number were mediocre to the say the least for the season. However, he was a benchwarmer at Maryland his 1st year so this is his 1st year of major PT. It's hard to make that adjustment from playing literally 2 minutes a game to 30 plus and the be the #1 option

I would expect him to make the equivalent of a sophomore jump in his 2nd year of major playing time in all phases in shooting better shot selection and efficiency.
 

gmujim92

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Good numbers offensively in regards to points per game but not very efficient. 37.2% from the floor. 29.4% from 3. 75.8% from the line. Assist/turnover ratio is not good. The team was horrible. I'm thinking we can do better.

NC A&T lost by 22 in the opening round of CAA tourney play. He scored 21 points on 8-27 shooting and 2-13 from 3. 2 assists and 5 turnovers. Not going to judge the young man on one game but his season numbers show the inconsistencies.



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSin6Am4U2Y
I think if Lamothe comes to Mason, it’s as a replacement for Billups — high-level athlete who is competitive and can defend multiple positions but isn’t a great natural shooter. Definitely fits what Tony is looking for with long athletes who can switch screens without getting crushed by mismatches.

Also has two years of eligibility, Jared grew into a force during his two years at Mason. Nice blueprint to follow.
 

Patriotsince81

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I think if Lamothe comes to Mason, it’s as a replacement for Billups — high-level athlete who is competitive and can defend multiple positions but isn’t a great natural shooter. Definitely fits what Tony is looking for with long athletes who can switch screens without getting crushed by mismatches.

Also has two years of eligibility, Jared grew into a force during his two years at Mason. Nice blueprint to follow.
It will be interesting to see if he's willing to accept that type of roll. Jared took 130 shots all year. Lamothe took 394 including 211 3's. Time, as always will answer all questions.
 

gmujim92

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It will be interesting to see if he's willing to accept that type of roll. Jared took 130 shots all year. Lamothe took 394 including 211 3's. Time, as always will answer all questions.
You’re absolutely right — but I can assure you he’s not coming here to be the next Auto-Maddox lol.
 

Patriot8

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I would personally rather see Deshawn Harris-Smith come in and take that role + some. Tony was the primary recruiter for both he and Lamothe at Maryland. Perhaps both could be targets given the state of our backcourt going into next season.
 
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gmujim92

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I would personally rather see Deshawn Harris-Smith come in and take that role + some. Tony was the primary recruiter for both he and Lamothe at Maryland. Perhaps both could be targets given the state of our backcourt going into next season.
I’d take both in a heartbeat. Harris-Smith is a dog, just got recruited over with Rodney Rice coming in and finding his game again. A change of scenery with a familiar face could do him wonders.
 

mkaufman1

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I’d take both in a heartbeat. Harris-Smith is a dog, just got recruited over with Rodney Rice coming in and finding his game again. A change of scenery with a familiar face could do him wonders.
But "drive and pickup recruit season" isn't until after Mason basketball is done lol
 

bravesfan

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I’d take both in a heartbeat. Harris-Smith is a dog, just got recruited over with Rodney Rice coming in and finding his game again. A change of scenery with a familiar face could do him wonders.

Yup. Skinn recruited him to Maryland and Lamar was at Paul VI with him. Clearly a great fit if he decides to transfer.
 

NewPatriot

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I think if Lamothe comes to Mason, it’s as a replacement for Billups — high-level athlete who is competitive and can defend multiple positions but isn’t a great natural shooter. Definitely fits what Tony is looking for with long athletes who can switch screens without getting crushed by mismatches.

Also has two years of eligibility, Jared grew into a force during his two years at Mason. Nice blueprint to follow.
He's helluva alot better than Billups offensively...think a much bigger version of Marquise Moore at 6'4 220.

I don't say this lighty either..(see for yourself)


He had 8 double doubles from the guard positions this season including 2 games where he pulled down 17 rebounds.


He was Ace Baldwin's understudy and little brother at St. Francis Academy in Baltimore.

View: https://youtu.be/1x4q8KJ7IoQ?si=GjKhQYFVXeel5Gx6


He has the potential to take over games as he matures.
 
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