2025 and beyond recruits

[Da Coach]

Speaking of kids who were underappreciated as high schoolers, here is a story about kid everyone is familiar with, who had no college interest when he was in high school, but with hard work and a late growth spurt, made himself into a pretty good D1 player.

Christian Davis was a 5' 11", 130 lb reserve guard as a junior at Mullen High School in Denver (2017-18 )- https://www.ncsasports.org/mens-bask...istian-davis36
By his senior year (2018-19), he had grown slightly to 6'0", 145 lb, but he still got no interest or offers from colleges.- https://www.maxpreps.com/co/denver/m...=mgok83i8lt788
He did have one spectacular game in December, 2018, in which he scored 55 points on just 24 shots, including 15-19 from three- https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=zuwirZfr8Bo
Article- https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/new...n-high-school/

So Christian went to a prep school, New Hampton Prep in New Hampshire, and was initially listed there as 6'2" - https://newenglandrecruitingreport.c...ian-davis-2020
By the time he finished his year at the prep school in 2020, he grew to 6'4", 160 lb., but he still didn't get any scholarship offers. So, he walked on at Division II Lemoyne College near Syracuse, New York for the 2020-21 season. He did not play in 2020-21 at Lemoyne because their season was cancelled due to Covid, but by his second year, he had grown to 6'6", 180 lb, and significantly improved his game. He was the team's leading scorer as a redshirt-freshman in 2021-22 (12.9 ppg) - https://lemoynedolphins.com/sports/m...ian-davis/6074

Christian tested the transfer portal after that redshirt-freshman season of 2021-22, and ended up with a scholarship offer from Bradley.
He was reported to be 6'7" in this article when he signed with Bradley in April, 2022- https://bradleybraves.com/news/2022/...hristian-davis
He averaged just 1.9 ppg and 1.0 rpg in 8 minutes off the bench for Bradley in 2022-23- https://bradleybraves.com/sports/men...stats/2022/pdf
He is now listed as 6'7", 200 lbs, and he is a part-time starter, playing 28 minutes per game, and he's averaging 8.8 ppg and 5.2 rpg- https://bradleybraves.com/sports/men...an-davis/13099

Dave Eminian article from last season- https://www.pjstar.com/story/sports/...s/69720346007/

[Bballjunkie]

Mason is one of those kids the more you watch him the more you realize he can play. He is very solid in all aspects. He wouldnt be a D1 star but he could give you sold minutes at both guards spots. Plus he has a winning pedigree. That is so important.

[Da Coach]

For the record, Kizer had 7 or 8 Division I offers prior to his senior year. I have never seen a report that any D1 coach has offered Mason.

[tomahawk chop]

I'm kinda in this camp as well on Mason at the D1 level, however, like I said he's got decent size, handles the ball well, and is pretty strong, and has a high basketball IQ. He's also played and had success against top programs with kids who have D1 athleticism. I don't think he's a full time D1 point guard, but would be an excellent player to spell the point and the 2 at a valley school. Has a toughness and IQ about him that is rare, and usually translates into success.

Kizer was/is a completely different type of player...more athletic, but not real strong for his size, cannot dribble all that well, and at 6'6" is a tweener at the D1 level. Cannot handle the ball well enough, or play Defense well enough to be in the back court, but doesn't possess the strength or post game to play inside either.

I like Mason a lot more then Kizer. I do think he has the skills to play D-1 basketball because he does pretty much everything on the court in helping his team win.

[Dubl R 1]

No question about that. I agree. I've never seen Mason play, but from people who have, they believe he is the best player on a team loaded with kids who have or will have D1 scholarships. But recruiting also takes future potential and other things into account. Maybe if he hadn't committed early, he might be getting D1 interest now. That's a choice each high school kid makes.
On the other hand, some great high school players' games don't quite translate into becoming a good D1 player. One of the stars of last year's state championship team, Ethan Kizer is struggling at South Alabama. He didn't play at all in their last game and hasn't contributed much as a freshman- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...83/ethan-kizer

I'm kinda in this camp as well on Mason at the D1 level, however, like I said he's got decent size, handles the ball well, and is pretty strong, and has a high basketball IQ. He's also played and had success against top programs with kids who have D1 athleticism. I don't think he's a full time D1 point guard, but would be an excellent player to spell the point and the 2 at a valley school. Has a toughness and IQ about him that is rare, and usually translates into success.

Kizer was/is a completely different type of player...more athletic, but not real strong for his size, cannot dribble all that well, and at 6'6" is a tweener at the D1 level. Cannot handle the ball well enough, or play Defense well enough to be in the back court, but doesn't possess the strength or post game to play inside either.

[Bballjunkie]

All great points. Had a feeling kizer may struggle. He needs to be in right system.

[Da Coach]

No question about that. I agree. I've never seen Mason play, but from people who have, they believe he is the best player on a team loaded with kids who have or will have D1 scholarships. But recruiting also takes future potential and other things into account. Maybe if he hadn't committed early, he might be getting D1 interest now. That's a choice each high school kid makes.
On the other hand, some great high school players' games don't quite translate into becoming a good D1 player. One of the stars of last year's state championship team, Ethan Kizer is struggling at South Alabama. He didn't play at all in their last game and hasn't contributed much as a freshman- https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...83/ethan-kizer

[Bballjunkie]

Appreciate the info. Totally understand what you are saying but kids are undervalued every year. Christian Davis is a perfect example. He has become a good D1 player. Mason may sit most of freshman year but after that I think he would be productive. Metamora has played such a tough schedule against several times top rated players and he hangs with them and is not overmatched. Take a look at his baseline dunk on manual last Saturday. It's on clutch sports.

[Da Coach]

Please don't take this as a criticism, but it appears that D1 coaches were not convinced he was a Division I player, or he would have had D1 scholarship offers.

And yes, D2 players can sign a National Letter of Intent if they are committing to an NCAA D2 school, though no athlete is required to sign an NLI.
Tyler Mason verbally committed to Wenona State on August 6, 2023- https://twitter.com/Tylermace25/stat...74179718557697
... and he signed a National Letter of Intent in the early signing period, on November 8, 2023- https://winonastatewarriors.com/news...ler-mason.aspx

Once an athlete signs a NLI, it would be improper for another school to continue to recruit the athlete, and the athlete is barred from accepting an athletic scholarship to another school unless he is granted a release. It does occasionally happen that an athlete becomes aware that other schools are interested in him, and in that case, he can ask the first school and the NLI to issue an official release. Then he can accept another offer.

[Bballjunkie]

I have watched him for 3 years and the more I watch him the more I appreciate his skill set. He would be a very productive player for BU. Too bad he has committed to Winona st. He is definitely a D1 player. His athleticism is underrated and he has played against top rated talent. He has championship dna.

[Dubl R 1]

What would be the rule on offering him now? No idea if he would even want to come here or not, but IDK what the rules are with the portal, is there a D2 letter of intent, has he signed one? Seems like he could be a good player at this level...maybe not a primary point but the kind of player that could have an impact at several positions in the back court.

[sam hannam]

PJStar article says that Tyler Mason chose Winona State because Connor and Decan Dillon from Notre Dame will be seniors on the team when he is a freshman and that Washington and WSU alum Devin Whitelow is an assistant on the coaching staff.

[bradleyfan124]

Maybe he chose Winona St. because he would get to play more minutes. Proving himself there could get him a D-1 scholarship down the road.He might even just like the school.

Or maybe he just likes Winona State

[tomahawk chop]

Big mistake that we didn't recruit mason. He is very talented and a winner. very good athlete. We missed out on a good one

Maybe he chose Winona St. because he would get to play more minutes. Proving himself there could get him a D-1 scholarship down the road.He might even just like the school.

[LongTimeFan]

Anyone been watching the Metamora games on TV?