CBB Rank 2024: No. 86, George Mason Basketball

George Mason basketball has been trending on social media for all the wrong reasons. Let’s just talk some hoops!

The tradition continues! CBB Review is again ranking the top 100 teams heading into the new college basketball season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: George Mason basketball.

The Patriots may not be headed to the Bahamas this week after all but don’t let that distract you from the fact that they are bringing back a heckuva squad.

Yes, George Mason is not like some of these other teams, who return a majority of last year’s core. Keyshawn Hall is a particularly massive loss from a production standpoint. What they do return, however, is big-time bucket-getter Darius Maddox, and the portal more than compensates for the role players they lost. K.D. Johnson transfers down from Auburn, while five projected rotational players come in from lower-ranked mid-major conferences.

A realistic goal for Tony Skinn in year two of his tenure is to compete at the top in an ever-so-wide-open Atlantic 10.

The reason I say that? Among other things, Dayton’s DaRon Holmes is no longer in the conference. It’s fair game now. The CBB Review staff voted George Mason fourth in the conference but St. Joseph’s (No. 93 in CBB Rank) as well as the three teams we will get to in the countdown (no spoilers!) can all realistically win the A-10 title.

For the betting people out there, the Patriots may have some value when the preseason futures odds come out. Any top-four finish in the regular season will put them in a solid position to end their 13-year NCAA Tournament drought.

Click here to learn more about our preseason top 100 teams heading into the 2024-25 college basketball season.

Head coach: Tony Skinn (2nd season overall, all at George Mason)

2023-24 record: 20-12 (9-9)

2024 postseason finish: No postseason

Notable departures: 

• Keyshawn Hall (16.6 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.4 APG)
• Amari Kelly (12.2 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.3 BPG, 42.4 3P%)
• Baraka Okojie (8.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.4 SPG)
• Ronald Polite III (7.5 PPG, 2.7 APG, 2.1 RPG)

Notable non-conference games: 

• at Marquette (Nov. 8)
• at James Madison (Nov. 29)
• at Duke (Dec. 17)

Projected Rotation

PG: KD Johnson (6-1, 190, Gr.-Sr.)

2023-24 stats: 7.1 PPG, 1.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.1 SPG (Auburn)

SG: Jared Billups (6-5, 200, Sr.)

2023-24 stats: 4.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.2 APG

SF: Darius Maddox (6-5, 185, Gr.-Sr.)

2023-24 stats: 14.0 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.8 APG,  41.4 3P%

PF: Zach Anderson (6-7, 205, Gr.-Sr.)

2023-24 stats: 12.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.9 APG,  38.7 3P% (FGCU)

C: Jalen Haynes (6-8, 250, Rs.-Jr.)

2023-24 stats: DNP (Redshirt)

2022-23 stats: 14.6 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.5 APG, 57.2 FG% (ETSU)

6: Jeremiah Quigley (5-11, 160, So.)

2023-24 stats: 10.8 PPG, 3.3 APG, 3.3 RPG (Iona)

7: Giovanni Emejuru (6-10, 270, Rs.-Jr.)

2023-24 stats: 11.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 0.6 APG (Siena)

8: Brayden O’Connor (6-4, 207, Jr.)

2023-24 stats: 9.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.2 APG (UMass Lowell)

9: Woody Newton (6-8, 200, Gr.-Sr.)

2023-24 stats: 5.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 0.4 APG

10: Austin Ball (6-7, 200, So.)

2023-24 stats: 2.5 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.5 APG

George Mason Basketball team MVP: Darius Maddox

The 6-foot-5 wing spent three seasons at Virginia Tech, where he showed moments of brilliance (see 2022 ACC Tournament) but did not stuff the stat sheet all the time. Then, he transferred to George Mason in the 2023 offseason and became one of the better players in the conference with a career-high 33.9 minutes played.

Maddox is foremost a lights-out shooter. His quick, high release allows him to get rid of the ball cleanly with little space. Three-level scorer is an overused term, but he happens to fit that term. Maddox shot 57.1% from around the rim, 42.9% from the mid-range, 41.1% from beyond the arc, and 85.7% from the charity stripe, all of which are well above the D1 average.

Last year, Maddox functioned as second fiddle to Hall, allowing him to thrive on high-efficiency numbers. In 2024-25, his usage rate will almost certainly increase from 19.7, as he will be asked to be the Patriots’ first scoring option.

Here’s the thing: as efficient as he was off the catch-and-shoot last season, Shot Quality also grades him in the 96th percentile in off-the-dribble three-pointer efficiency and the 87th percentile in creating his own shot. The well-rounded offensive player he is, Maddox is certainly prepared for the increased responsibility.

George Mason Basketball make-or-break player: KD Johnson

With a transfer-heavy team, quite a few guys could be honorable mentions here. How do each of the five lower-major transfers adjust to a steeper level of competition? The good news is that they will be playing lesser roles. Zach Anderson mostly needs to be an effective shooter from the four spot to complement the traditional big in Jalen Haynes. The bench trio just needs to provide secondary scoring and the occasional hot night.

There is one player who absolutely needs a bounce-back season, not only for the team’s success but for his legacy as a college basketball player. That is no other than 6-foot-1 guard KD Johnson.

Johnson had a great freshman year at Georgia, then transferred to Auburn where he was extremely polarizing for three seasons. Some fans applauded his great defensive play and the energy boost he provided; others grew frustrated by his high-volume/low-efficiency shooting nights. Johnson’s playing time decreased and he ultimately earned a season-low 17.7 minutes per game in 2023-24.

George Mason gives KD a second chance. Will we see the former top 100 recruit who was an All-SEC Freshman? Or will Mason fans grow just as frustrated as the folks in Auburn? Johnson is slated to be the starting point guard, so a lot resides on how he performs.

Key analytic: Adjusted tempo

Pace is an important factor in analyzing the stylistic differences among D1 basketball teams. George Mason basketball averaged 63.9 offensive possessions per game last season, ranking 342nd in the country. However, the two transfer guards the staff brought in, Johnson from Auburn, and O’Connor from UMass Lowell, each played in systems that liked to run and capitalize in transition.

Since we only have one year of data with Skinn, we have to wonder if he deliberately plays slow as part of his embedded philosophy or his style is more volatile based on personnel. I can’t imagine a team like this finishing that low in tempo once again; the question is how drastic the increase is.