Welcome AJ WIlson

[Pablo]

As a redshirt freshman, he set an EBA record: Most Blocked Shots: 8, AJ Wilson vs. CSUN, 11/18/17

As a redshirt junior, he has 13 blocked shots in the first 3 games for an average of 4.3 bpg. 3-time CAA POY George Evans set the school record for a season (minimum 10 games) of 2.6 bpg in the 1998-99 CAA championship season.

AJ has 85 career blocked shots and needs 3 more to tie Henri Abrams (88) for 12th place at Mason. AJ is averaging 1.3 bpg in his career, which is 7th all-time at Mason (minimum 2 seasons).

 

[JPgmuswim]

As a redshirt freshman, he set an EBA record: Most Blocked Shots: 8, AJ Wilson vs. CSUN, 11/18/17

As a redshirt junior, he has 13 blocked shots in the first 3 games for an average of 4.3 bpg. 3-time CAA POY George Evans set the school record for a season (minimum 10 games) of 2.6 bpg in the 1998-99 CAA championship season.

AJ has 85 career blocked shots and needs 3 more to tie Henri Abrams (88) for 12th place at Mason. AJ is averaging 1.3 bpg in his career, which is 7th all-time at Mason (minimum 2 seasons).

Wonder where he ranks when you do his blocks per minutes, considering he spent so much time riding the bench his first 2 seasons.

 

[MasonCrew]

Woah! When did Pablo come back?

 

[Old Man]

Woah! When did Pablo come back?

I was thinking the exact same thing when I saw a Pablo comment.

 

[gmutom]

What I love about AJ is he's learning when and when not to to go for the block, which is not easy for a kid with his skills. If I had his hops and wingspan, I'd want to smack the shit out of every shot as well. There was a play in the second game when he realized he was beaten, and he wisely chose to give up the layup.

AJ is much more valuable to us on the court than off, so conceding the bucket rather than picking up a cheap foul or even a 3-point play shows how much he has grown. The fact that he is learning this while also putting up really impressive block numbers this season is a testament to not only his talent but his commitment to get better.

 

[GMUgemini]

What I love about AJ is he's learning when and when not to to go for the block, which is not easy for a kid with his skills. If I had his hops and wingspan, I'd want to smack the shit out of every shot as well. There was a play in the second game when he realized he was beat, and he wisely chose to give up the layup.

AJ is much more valuable to us on the court than off, so conceding the bucket rather than picking up a cheap foul or even a 3-point play shows how much he has grown. The fact that he is learning this while also putting up really impressive block numbers this season is a testament to not only his talent but his commitment to get better.

I want to see him break the NCAA single game block record against JMU. That way, we win and JMU has two records set against them by us.

Apparently the record is 16. You can do it AJ!

 

[Pablo]

What I love about AJ is he's learning when and when not to to go for the block, which is not easy for a kid with his skills. If I had his hops and wingspan, I'd want to smack the shit out of every shot as well. There was a play in the second game when he realized he was beaten, and he wisely chose to give up the layup.

AJ is much more valuable to us on the court than off, so conceding the bucket rather than picking up a cheap foul or even a 3-point play shows how much he has grown. The fact that he is learning this while also putting up really impressive block numbers this season is a testament to not only his talent but his commitment to get better.

 

[patriot2000]

I love it. An interesting bit of trivia: Coach L didn't... He and I were chatting at Brion's Grille once and he went on this monologue about how he hated shot blocking because it means you failed on defense. He was happy when a block was successful, obviously, but said it never should have happened. You only block a shot because you missed your assignment, or you're covering for someone else who missed their assignment. This was the guy who coached George Evans, and considers him the best player he's every coached in his career.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Blocked shots can be an emotional lift for a team. If we gain possession of the ball as a result of the block it's a positive play. If we swat it out of bounds and the opponent then scores it really serves no purpose.

 

[GMUgemini]

Blocked shots can be an emotional lift for a team. If we gain possession of the ball as a result of the block it's a positive play. If we swat it out of bounds and the opponent then scores it really serves no purpose.

I mean it does serve the purpose of stopping the initial bucket, in the same way tipping a pass out of bounds that was going to a wide open player would do the same thing. The failed defense on the inbound would be a separate issue.

 

[Patriotsince81]

I mean it does serve the purpose of stopping the initial bucket, in the same way tipping a pass out of bounds that was going to a wide open player would do the same thing. The failed defense on the inbound would be a separate issue.

Not arguing that in the least. I prefer to see a player block it and tap it to a teammate a la Bill Russell rather than swat it out of bounds and allow the opponent to regain control.

 

[Patriot8]

Bill Rohland just said this on the broadcast. ROHLAND IS PABLO.

 

[Pablo]

In Mason's 83-70 victory over JMU, AJ had 7 pts. (3-9 FG's & 1-3 FT's), a career-high & game-high 12 rebounds, a career-high and team-high 4 assists, 2 turnovers, 5 blocked shots, & 3 personal fouls in 31 minutes.

He has 90 career blocked shots, passing Henri Abrams & tying Steve Smith for 11th place at Mason:

1. George Evans: 211
2. Andre Gaddy: 174
Mike Morrison: 174
4. Erik Copes:122
5. Robert Dykes: 111
6. Rob Rose: 106
7. Louis Birdsong: 101
8. Byron Tucker: 97
9. Jai Lewis: 91
Jalen Jenkins: 91
11. AJ Wilson: 90
Steve Smith: 90
13. Henri Abrams: 88

 

[mason89]

Bill Rohland just said this on the broadcast. ROHLAND IS PABLO.

Ummm… No. Bill is not Pablo.

 

[GMUgemini]

By the way, Giant Killers asked this question and AJ is currently tied 5th in the nation in blocks per game with 4.5.

 

[Patriot8]

Ummm… No. Bill is not Pablo.

Ah.. so you took that seriously.. good to know

 

[Cedric Dempsey]

Not arguing that in the least. I prefer to see a player block it and tap it to a teammate a la Bill Russell rather than swat it out of bounds and allow the opponent to regain control.

Anything else he should do just like Bill Russell?

 

[99 Patriot]

Worth pointing out that A.J. had more assists against JMU then he had all of last season. For that matter he was only 2 shy of his career total entering this season.

 

[gmujim92]

Worth pointing out that A.J. had more assists against JMU then he had all of last season. For that matter he was only 2 shy of his career total entering this season.

@Herndon This is a big part of the “well-rounded game” you were looking for. AJ is growing in confidence by the day. The final piece will be developing a reliable 3-point shot at game speed. He knocks them down in practice ... if it starts happening in games, watch out.

 

[Herndon]

@Herndon This is a big part of the “well-rounded game” you were looking for. AJ is growing in confidence by the day. The final piece will be developing a reliable 3-point shot at game speed. He knocks them down in practice ... if it starts happening in games, watch out.

To be honest, I don't even think he needs to develop a reliable 3-point shot but it would obviously be a bonus.

If he can be a reliable free throw shooter, I think that's probably good enough, considering he's likely to shoot a high percentage from the floor.

Dunks, blocks, free throws and rebounds, while not committing a ton of turnovers is good enough for me.

To be honest, he has already out-performed what I thought he was capable of, and I'm tickled pink about it

If this is as good as it gets, that's already good enough, in my opinion.