2021-2022 Mason roster

Patriot8

All-American
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GIVING DAY 2023
Less questioning about him than Gadsden that’s for sure. Injury history is quite scary but kid was really highly touted two years ago. Hope he’s feeling good!!
Less questioning purely because there's more tape. Gadsden has a Jordan Miller-esque frame, probably coming in as a better shooter than Jordan was, and he plays with a ton of bounce. Additionally, he's been in a college weight lifting program for a few months.
 

He15man

Starter
I could see that. Hewitt never landed a true PG. every team needs a floor general. It’s useless to have shooters if no one is going to pass to them ahah.
100% agree. I think back to the most successful eras/teams in recent history and a true PG/floor general is a common denominator - Jason Miskiri, Tremaine Price, Tony Skinn, and Andre Cornelius... those were what I'd consider true PGs, and lulls we had between their teams had guys like Raoul Heinin, Cam Long, Jordan Farmer, etc running point. Otis was a true PG, too, but the lack of success I'll attribute to coaching and not having good surrounding pieces. But nothing would make me happier than seeing a true PG leading the show when the English era begins; not a SG masquerading as a PG.
 

mkaufman1

Administrator
Staff member
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
GIVING DAY 2023
Glad we held on to this kid then, still think we are too PG heavy.
Agree. We have four to make two.

I don't disagree that we are too "PG heavy" in theory, but with a new coach we'll quickly figure out who is depth and who is primary.

If I had to guess Hartwell is probably 4th in line and the odd man out with XJ being 3rd in line. The one good thing is that with so many PGs, you theoretically could put two out there together if we don't' get another "2" behind Cooper (and if Frazier ends up playing more of a "3"). And of course someone may get hurt. XJ also may feel more comfortable at the 2 spot as a bruising get to the basket guard and not necessarily a shooter. I could see him being more of a Bryon Allen.

Obviously, I want another "2" but if we have to adjust for year 1 and use the scholarship for another position because it was a "best available", I don't see this as the worst scenario in the world.

Also for as good as Gray might be, like with anyone, he might have some adjustment to the D1 game.
 

He15man

Starter
My guess is that Hartwell hits the portal after next season, when it becomes clear he's on the outside looking in. I simply don't see him getting any meaningful PT. And I'd actually prefer to see it happen that way so English has an extra scholarship next year to play with and add the pieces he truly needs after a complete year of evaluation. Maybe we all think it's a 2, but someone stepped up out of nowhere and the new gap is actually the 3. Time and actual games will be the true indicators.
 

gmujim92

Hall of Famer
GIVING DAY 2023
My guess is that Hartwell hits the portal after next season, when it becomes clear he's on the outside looking in. I simply don't see him getting any meaningful PT. And I'd actually prefer to see it happen that way so English has an extra scholarship next year to play with and add the pieces he truly needs after a complete year of evaluation. Maybe we all think it's a 2, but someone stepped up out of nowhere and the new gap is actually the 3. Time and actual games will be the true indicators.
It won’t take until after next season for everything to shake out. With the NCAA’s new offseason workout rules, coaches can hold full team practices for a certain number of hours instead of being limited to individual skill work. They will find out long before we do where everyone stands in the pecking order ... I’d be shocked if we don’t have one more player enter the portal at some point this spring/early summer.
 

tblack33

Hall of Famer
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
GIVING DAY 2023
It won’t take until after next season for everything to shake out. With the NCAA’s new offseason workout rules, coaches can hold full team practices for a certain number of hours instead of being limited to individual skill work. They will find out long before we do where everyone stands in the pecking order ... I’d be shocked if we don’t have one more player enter the portal at some point this spring/early summer.
My big worry is he figures it out late July early August and we get put into a bad spot late in the game going into the season.
 

He15man

Starter
It won’t take until after next season for everything to shake out. With the NCAA’s new offseason workout rules, coaches can hold full team practices for a certain number of hours instead of being limited to individual skill work. They will find out long before we do where everyone stands in the pecking order ... I’d be shocked if we don’t have one more player enter the portal at some point this spring/early summer.
That's good. I might STILL prefer English wait and hold onto the extra scholarship then until after next season - depending on how the transfer portal looks at that time, and unless we have a GLARING depth issue at a certain position. I'm not super familiar with how the portal looks at certain points of the year when it comes to basketball... but from a football POV, those late portal entries tend to be guys that are either lazy and not interested in putting in the work to earn their spot, or fringe players that can't play with consistency. Not the type I'd be super excited about risking a scholly on. But maybe basketball is a different story.
 

gmujim92

Hall of Famer
GIVING DAY 2023
My big worry is he figures it out late July early August and we get put into a bad spot late in the game going into the season.
Based on KE’s level of personal engagement with the players and the way these things typically work, I’m sure there are going to be frank conversations happening over the next couple months. Hopefully the staff and players can find mutually beneficial resolutions for everyone because one of the PGs will be an odd man out
 

Patriot8

All-American
⭐️ Donor ⭐️
GIVING DAY 2023
With KE's recent social media activity and quotes regarding Polite, Gray, and Cooper, I'm expecting a frontcourt add. I never really saw Otis Frazier in the 2 guard spot in any of the tape i've seen on him; he was mainly on the wing, but if he can provide some help there, then finding an experienced guy who can slot in at the 4 makes this roster about as complete as anyone could've hoped for. Again, losing AJ leaves a large void defensively that probably needs to be addressed. He was this teams "eraser", and KE is coming from Tennessee where Yves Pons served that same role. Maybe Henry can do that, but given that every transfer we've gotten has come from an NCAA Tournament team, I can't see us rolling into the season with more than one "question mark" in the starting 5 (Polite).

I said earlier that Schwartz didn't transfer here to play out of position, and I can also assume that he didn't transfer here to miss the tournament either. We are in Win-Now mode.
 

Patriotsince81

Hall of Famer
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GOLD SPONSOR
Tyler, anywhere but Richmond!!!! Yes, he was contacted by them. Don't want to play against him for 3 years.
 

Pikapppatri8

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Tyler, anywhere but Richmond!!!! Yes, he was contacted by them. Don't want to play against him for 3 years.
We don't fear betrayers -- we break them. Drive them to their knees, make them beg for mercy and then show them none.

Stop crying -- turn the sadness into anger, the anger into rage and that rage into the subjugation of your enemies.
 
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