With the end of every college basketball season, seniors depart and new recruits enter the roster, creating a challenging and exciting time for basketball coaches, fans and teammates alike looking to continue their success from the previous season or gain much needed success for the season in front of them.
Mason is no different. With the departures of three senior starters and a redshirt junior transfer, the Patriots will see the addition of five new players including four freshman and an eligible redshirt junior transfer for the upcoming 2014–2015 season.
Departing seniors
2013 – 2014 Statistics
Bryon Allen – 6’3” – Guard – 15.4 PPG – 3.9 RPG
Sherrod Wright – 6’4” – Guard – 15.6 PPG – 3.2 RPG
Johnny Williams – 6’8” – Forward – 5.5 PPG – 3.6 APG
Transfers out
2013 – 2014 Statistics
Anali Okoloji – 6’8” – Forward – 2.1 PPG – 1.8 RPG
Anali Okoloji committed to Eastern Michigan in the Mid-American Conference to play out his senior season and final year of eligibility, after playing in only 17 games for Mason as a redshirt junior. Last season Okoloji averaged only eight minutes of action per game. After being suspended indefinitely by Head Coach Paul Hewitt for stepping on a USF player in a game at the Patriot Center early last season, Okoloji saw only four minutes of court time from mid-January through the remainder of the season.
Transfers in
Julian Royal – 6’8” – Forward
Redshirt junior Julian Royal sat out the 2013–2014 season due to NCAA transfer rules and earned a redshirt. In two seasons at Georgia Tech, Royal appeared in 54 games averaging 3.8 points and 1.9 rebounds per game while averaging 11.8 minutes per contest. Royal tallied 21 assists, 15 steals and 14 blocks while shooting 40.8 percent from the field.
2014 Commits
Trey Porter – 6’10” – Center – Dumfries, Virginia
Future Mason Patriot Trey Porter helped his Potomac Panthers high school team capture the Virginia 5A state title this past season in a 54-42 victory over Henrico. Porter recorded an impressive 18 points and six blocks in the contest, and was named Virginia 5A co-player of the year. Porter has the athletic ability to protect the rim and is an impressive dunker. He showed significant growth as a player in his senior year of high school, and possesses the ability to rebound, block shots and make free throws.
Isaiah Jackson – 6’6” – Small Forward – Gainesville, Florida
Isaiah Jackson signed a letter of intent with Mason and attracted national attention. As one of the top performers for his AAU team, Florida Elite Black, Jackson turned heads in the AAU Super Showcase and Nationals in Orlando, Florida last July. Jackson is a well-rounded player with the versatility to play on the perimeter. He can score, pass and knock down the open three. Jackson was still recovering from a leg injury in January and will have to get fully healthy and work on being consistent.
“Isaiah is a versatile perimeter player with outstanding size,” Hewitt said. “We see him playing any of the three perimeter positions for us and we think he has a chance to make an impact for us next year offensively.”
Eric Lockett – 6’5” – Small Forward – Atlanta, Georgia
Whitefield Academy forward Eric Lockett can play both inside and out and is a combination of the size, skill and pure athleticism that Mason is looking for.
Therence Mayimba – 6’6” – Small Forward – Hagerstown, Maryland
Therence Mayimba received offers from George Washington, Kansas State and UAB, but ultimately decided to become a Patriot. Mayimba is an excellent defensive player and can rotate to block shots as a help-side defender. Mayimba played for AAU Team Takeover.
How the new roster stacks up
Mason is losing two valuable guards in Allen and Wright, which could leave the backcourt empty. But with the addition of three strong small forwards with size and versatility, the team’s front court and perimeter should be fully stocked next season.
