UVa’s Mason opts to enter NBA draft
By ANDREW JOYNER
Daily Progress staff writer
Virginia junior guard Roger Mason Jr. announced Monday that he plans to submit
his name for consideration for June’s NBA draft.
The decision comes after a month of speculation about his future since the
Cavaliers’ season ended with a loss to South Carolina in the first round of
the NIT on March 13. Numerous times, when asked about his future, both during
and after the season, Mason carefully worded his responses by saying that his
decision at that particular moment was to return to UVa for his senior season.
Apparently, that thought process changed once the season ended and as Mason
gathered information about where he might be selected in the draft.
According to sources, Mason has not hired an agent. Under NCAA rules, Mason
could pull his name out of consideration prior to the draft should he find his
draft positioning not to his liking. It’s a practice several underclassmen
such as Kentucky’s Tayshaun Prince and Keith Bogans opted to do last season
and ultimately returned to school.
Calls to both Mason and his family in Silver Spring, Md., were not returned.
“Today I have submitted my name for consideration for the 2002 NBA draft,”
said Mason, who averaged a team-leading 18.6 points per game this past season
and was a second-team All-ACC selection in a statement released by UVa. “This
decision was made based on information suggesting that now is the optimal time
for me to begin pursuing my chosen profession. The system allows me to pursue
this opportunity while maintaining my college eligibility.
“I wish to thank everyone at the University of Virginia, especially my
coaches, teachers, teammates and the staff for all of their help in preparing me
both on and off the court. Though I am leaving the university’s basketball
team, I fully intend to pursue my college degree at the University of Virginia.
“I feel confident in my ability to play at the next level and I look forward
to the challenges ahead.”
Most draft experts, such as NBAdraft.net, have Mason as high as a No. 16
selection in the first round in one of its mock drafts. Other publications do
not have Mason rated nearly that high. Andy Katz of ESPN.com recently wrote that
“[Mason is] flirting with testing the draft process, but what he’ll find out
is scouts view him as a mid-to-late second-round pick at best.”
Mason was named to the 2002 National Association of Basketball Coaches
All-District 5 first team and was selected to the United States Basketball
Writers Association All-District 3 team. He also was among the top-50 preseason
candidates and the top-30 midseason candidates for the 2001-02 Wooden Award
All-America basketball team.
“Roger is a great player and we really appreciate all he’s done for the
University of Virginia the past three years,” Virginia coach Pete Gillen said.
“We want what is best for Roger Mason Jr. He is keeping his options open and
I’m confident that he’ll make the right decision based on what’s best for
him and his family.”
Herrion to coach at Coll. of Charleston
By ANDREW JOYNER
Daily Progress staff writer
UVa assistant men’s basketball coach Tommy Herrion, head coach Pete Gillen’s
top assistant for the past four years, will be named as the head coach at the
College of Charleston at a news conference at the school today, according to
sources.
Herrion, 34, will replace legendary College of Charleston coach John Kresse, who
retired after 23 seasons at the school last month.
Kresse compiled a 560-143 record during his tenure at Charleston and guided the
Cougars to their first four NCAA tournament bids in school history.
Herrion, who interviewed for the position last Thursday in Charleston, S.C., was
one of a handful of candidates for the job that included Maryland assistant Dave
Dickerson and Ohio State assistant Paul Biancardi. Several of the candidates,
including former Kresse assistant and current Winthrop coach Gregg Marshall,
current Charleston assistant Ben Betts removed their names from consideration
the past few days. Dickerson also withdrew his name for consideration late
Monday night.
Herrion will now join his brother, Bill, the head coach at East Carolina, as one
of the few pairs of brothers holding Division I head coaching jobs. The
brothers’ father, the late Jim Herrion, was a longtime high school coach in
New York City and was later an assistant coach at Holy Cross and the head coach
at Worchester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts.
Herrion, a 1989 graduate of Merrimack College, previously had served as an
assistant under Gillen at Providence in his four years prior to coming to
Charlottesville.
In his first season at UVa, Herrion was the staff’s third assistant behind
Bobby Gonzalez, now the head coach at Manhattan, and Walt Fuller. After
Gonzalez’s departure in the spring of 1999, Herrion was promoted to the top
assistant position and became Gillen’s chief recruiter. During his time at UVa,
Herrion was instrumental in the recruiting efforts with several, if not most, of
the current and future Cavaliers.
Gillen likely will have several options in replacing Herrion. First, he could
promote current assistants Walt Fuller and Scott Shepherd and administrative
assistant Alexis Sherard and fill Sherard’s position with a new coach.
Secondly, he could replace Herrion’s position directly.
Perhaps one of the stronger possibilities, if Gillen chooses that path, would be
former Gillen assistant Mike Malone. Malone, who currently works as an assistant
with the NBA’s New York Knicks, was a member of Gillen’s first staff at
Virginia as the administrative assistant. Malone departed in April 1999 when
Gonzalez was named the head coach at Manhattan College. According to sources,
another possibility could be former New Mexico, St. John’s and Manhattan head
coach Fran Fraschilla, who recently resigned his post at New Mexico.
There are also several former UVa players such as Richard Morgan (East Carolina)
and Jason Williford (Boston University) that are currently Division I assistant
coaches and also may be considered.
Ward’s concussions may have
Virginia seeking new fullback
By JOHN GALINSKY
Daily Progress staff writer
Jonathan Ward, expected to be Virginia’s starting fullback next season,
probably will be held out of the rest of spring practice and his football future
remains in doubt because of multiple concussions, UVa coach Al Groh said Monday.
Ward suffered his latest concussion last month when he banged heads with another
player during an off-season workout. Doctors have not cleared him to play since
the spring practice period began on March 27.
Groh said he learned that Ward also had concussion problems in high school, so
there could be risks associated with continuing his football career.
“I think it’s going to have to be something he thinks out,” Groh said.
“We’ve seen a number of players go through this decision — Troy Aikman,
Steve Young and other guys.”
Aikman and Young were NFL quarterbacks who retired in part because of multiple
concussions.
As a sophomore last season, the 6-foot, 232-pound Ward saw limited action at
fullback and on special teams. He carried three times for three yards and caught
two passes for 21 yards. As a freshman, he played tailback and rushed 22 times
for 74 yards.
Once a highly touted recruit from Poway, Calif., Ward was a leading candidate to
replace Tyree Foreman at fullback. The players practicing at the position this
spring are Kase Luzar, Brandon Isaiah, Ben Vincent and Trae Toliver. None have a
rushing attempt in college, though Luzar caught six passes last season as a
backup tight end.
Getting better. Isaiah and linebacker Rich Bedesem each redshirted
last season after undergoing knee surgery for a torn ACL, but both are back at
practice and appear to have recovered fully, Groh said.
“No indication of any problem this spring,” Groh said when asked about
Bedesem. “Both he and Isaiah rehabbed relentlessly. ... Both have taken every
play so far. They seem to be at 100 percent.”
Half done. The Cavaliers held their eighth practice of the spring
Monday. They have seven remaining, including the Spring Game on April 20 at
Scott Stadium.
Groh said he would hesitate to evaluate players, at least publicly, until later
in the spring. But he offered that many players are making progress and “I
think we’ve had a very good energy level all the way through to this point.”
Virginia ran 96 plays during practice on Saturday, though Groh said it was not a
full scrimmage because he wants to avoid injuries, especially on the offensive
and defensive lines.
“For the development of the team, it’s very important we keep everyone on
the field so we can do everything we need to do,” Groh said.
Catching on. Groh did praise receiver Michael McGrew, who caught 31
passes as a sophomore last season. He pointed out that McGrew is at the same
stage Billy McMullen was before McMullen busted out with a record-breaking
junior season.
“Michael McGrew is having a really good camp,” Groh said. “You can see
this spring where he’s becoming a really good player.”
Extra points. One place-kicking candidate, Bryan Smith, is out for the spring with a knee injury. Another, Tom Hagan, is finishing his senior year at Cave Spring High School. For now, Sean Johnson and Bryce Coffee are practicing at both kicker and punter, while Kurt Smith is working strictly as a kicker. ... Marcus Hardy, a reserve linebacker last season, has moved to tight end. ... Defensive linemen Chris Canty and Andrew Hoffman have bulked up considerably since last season. Canty now weighs in at 282, while Hoffman is at 277. ... Friday’s practice, which begins at 2:30 p.m. on the fields behind University Hall, is open to the public.
| UVa's Mason going to NBA |
| NBADraft.net currently rates Roger Mason Jr. the No. 16 prospect available for the June 26 draft. |
| By
DOUG DOUGHTY THE ROANOKE TIMES |
The Virginia men's basketball program was jolted Monday night when second-team All-ACC selection Roger Mason Jr. announced that he is making himself available for the NBA Draft. Mason, a 6-foot-4 junior from Silver Spring, Md., averaged 18.6 points in leading the Cavaliers in scoring for the second year in a row. "This decision was made based on information suggesting that now is the optimal time for me to begin pursuing my chosen profession," said Mason in a statement released by the school. "The system allows me to pursue this opportunity while maintaining my college eligibility." To be eligible for the draft, Mason is required to notify the NBA of his intentions by May 12. Players then have until June 19 to withdraw provided this is their first early entry announcement. The NBA Draft is on June 26. On the other hand, there was a distinct finality to Mason's announcement. "I wish to thank everyone at the University of Virginia, especially my coaches, teachers, teammates and the staff for all of their help in preparing me both on and off the court," he said. "Though I am leaving the university's basketball team, I fully intend to pursue my college degree at the University of Virginia. I feel confident in my ability to play at the next level and I look forward to the challenges again." Mason also could lose his eligibility by signing with an agent; however, he could not be reached at his campus apartment and it could not be determined if he had taken that step. His decision came just over a month after he had indicated that his intention was to return in 2002-2003. "Right now, my decision is that I'm coming back to school," said Mason on the eve of the ACC Tournament. "All I'm thinking about is the ACC Tournament and, hopefully, the NCAA Tournament." At the time, Mason's reasoning was "the fact the season hasn't gone the way I wanted it to. If the NBA's here now, it will be here in another year, so I don't have anything to rush." Coach Pete Gillen admitted in an interview last month that Mason was looking into his NBA options. A Web site, NBADraft.net, currently rates him the No.16 prospect available for the draft. He was rated in the 20s as recently as last week. If he leaves, Mason will finish his career without the satisfaction of a postseason victory in either the ACC Tournament, NCAA Tournament or NIT. After a 14-2 start this year in which they soared to No.4 in the rankings, UVa lost 10 of its last 13 games. The loss of Mason would leave the Cavaliers with one returning double-figure scorer, center Travis Watson. "Roger is a great player and we really appreciate all he's done the past three years," coach Pete Gillen said in a statement. "We want what is best for Roger Mason Jr. "He is keeping his options open and I'm confident that he'll make the right decision based on what's best for him and his family." |
| Groh hopes extra game before FSU eases anxiety |
| By
DOUG DOUGHTY THE ROANOKE TIMES |
On the same day that star player Roger Mason announced his desire to pass up his final season of eligibility, Virginia learned that another key member of coach Pete Gillen's men's basketball program could be headed elsewhere. Not long after Maryland announced that assistant Dave Dickerson would be staying in College Park, Md., there were indications that UVa assistant Tommy Herrion would be named the head coach today at the College of Charleston. Andy Katz, college basketball reporter for ESPN.com, was among those reporting that the Cougars would hire Herrion, a 34-year-old Oxford, Mass., native and 1989 Merrimack College graduate. Herrion is the younger brother of East Carolina coach Bill Herrion and has been with Gillen for eight years, including four seasons at Providence. TOUGH WARMUP: After losing 16 seniors and knowing they would rely heavily on redshirt freshmen, some football coaches might have rejected the opportunity to play an extra game, particularly against a bowl team. Virginia coach Al Groh didn't think twice about playing Colorado State, which comes to Scott Stadium on Aug.22 for the Jim Thorpe Classic. "When the original schedule came out and we saw we were opening at Florida State, which was fine with us, I could see there was a strong possibility we would have a lot of players playing in their first college game," Groh said. "That would be a pretty dramatic opening for those players. When we were offered the opportunity to host this game, I thought it was very advantageous and give us a good three-game stretch early." After entertaining Colorado State, the Cavaliers visit Florida State on Aug.31, then return home for South Carolina. "Let's not just talk about the rookies," Groh said. "For our whole team, this is a pretty demanding stretch. There probably are very few teams in the country that play three bowl teams to start with. That's about as demanding as it's going to get. "But, hey, if we had been offered the opportunity in the middle of the season, I would have taken it. The more looks, the more plays, the more situations that we can put these players through early, the faster the dividends are going to come." Groh likes the way the season breaks down, with three games followed by a bye week, six games followed by a second bye week, and then the last four games. "There was a list of potential opponents presented to us and Colorado State was one of the first ones that caught my attention," Groh said. "They're a good team that's used to winning. They have a very good coach [ Sonny Lubick ] who knows how to get his team up every year. "I like the opponent. They're my opponent of choice. It's a challenge and I think this team will grow from a challenge." WARD ON HOLD: Groh confirmed Monday that it is likely that junior Jonathan Ward, the heir apparent to Tyree Foreman at fullback, will miss the remainder of spring drills with a concussion suffered in off-season conditioning drills. "I don't think this is so much a concern with the doctors," Groh said. "I think is going to be something [Ward] thinks out, too. We've seen a number of players go through this decision, whether it's [Troy] Aikman or Steve Young or a few of those other guys." Groh said that Ward, from the San Diego area, had a history of concussions that was "apparently a little bit more than what the people here were aware of before he got here." Junior Kase Luzar has moved from tight end to fullback and is in a battle for playing time with sophomore Brandon Isaiah and walk-ons Ben Vincent and Trae Toliver. Luzar performed many fullback-type duties last year when UVa was in two tight end sets. Luzar's move was facilitated by the development of redshirt freshman Heath Miller, the Group A state player of the year in 2000 at Honaker High School. Miller, who weighed 234 on his arrival, is up to 255 "and going," Groh said. "He was a quick study as far as learning and has a real nice combination of skills. He's got a ruggedness about him, too. Patrick [Estes] is the same way," Groh said. "I think, as time goes on, we're going to end up with two good-sized tight ends with multiple skills." TEMPERED OPTIMISM: Sophomore linebacker and Salem product Dennis Haley, considered a possible starter until days before the 2001 opener, received virtually all of his playing time on special teams after senior John Duckett was cleared to play. Haley drew raves from Groh last spring before suffering a knee injury that ended his workouts after one week. When the team reported in the fall, Haley wasn't physical enough to suit the coaches, one reason that Groh hesitated Monday before evaluating Haley's play this spring. "Progress ... progress" said Groh, who thought for a moment before settling on his original description. "Pleasing to the coaches and pleasing to Dennis." TWO-WAY STREET: Dan Street, a senior third baseman from Loudoun Valley, is leading the UVa baseball team in batting, home runs and RBI, and he also takes a regular turn in the Cavaliers' pitching rotation. Street, who usually draws the third game in the Cavaliers three-game weekend ACC series, has 10 home runs and 41 RBI in 33 games. He also has a 3-0 pitching record, with a save, in seven mound appearances. UVa's other weekend starters are sophomore Chris Gale, son of former Kansas City Royals pitcher Rich Gale, and Jeff Kamrath, who is 5-2 and lowered his ERA to 1.98 with a 5-0 shutout of Maryland. Chris Gale is from Durham, N.H., home of ex-UVa basketball player Keith Friel. UVa BOUND: UVa lacrosse signee Matt Poskay from Johnson High School in Union City, N.J., set a national record last week with his first of nine goals in a 17-10 victory over Montclair. That put Poskay over the 300-goal mark for his career and surpassed the record of 292 goals set by former Syracuse All-American Casey Powell. Poskay, also a quarterback in football, has one 12-goal game and 35 games with five goals or more. |
Mason submits name for draft
CHARLOTTESVILLE - Roger Mason Jr. may have played his final basketball game for the University of Virginia. Mason, a 6-5 guard who would be the ACC's top returning scorer in 2002-03, yesterday submitted his name for the June 26 NBA draft, U.Va. announced.
"This decision was made based on information suggesting that now is the optimal time for me to begin pursuing my chosen profession," Mason said in a statement. "I feel confident in my ability to play at the next level, and I look forward to the challenges ahead."
Mason, whom many draft analysts project as a late first-round pick, hasn't ruled out returning to Virginia for his final season. An underclassman who declares for the draft has until June 19 to withdraw - if he hasn't signed with an agent.
"He's not signing with an agent," his mother, Marsha Mason-Wonsley, said last night from the family's home in Silver Spring, Md.
Nor has Mason, 21, dropped out of U.Va.'s architecture school. "Though I am leaving the University's basketball team, I fully intend to pursue my college degree at the University of Virginia," he said in his statement.
Mason is likely to be evaluated at the NBA's pre-draft camp June 5-8 in Chica- go. Several college stars, including Southern Cal's Sam Clancy, returned to school after withdrawing from last year's draft. First-round picks receive guaranteed contracts, but second-round picks do not.
When asked this season about the NBA, Mason chose his words carefully. At that moment, he would always say, he planned to return for his senior season. Clearly, though, the NBA intrigued Mason, and he's "heard from enough people he feels are valuable that he's willing to try this," his mother said.
U.Va. coach Pete Gillen said in a statement: "We want what is best for Roger . . . He is keeping his options open, and I'm confident that he'll make the right decision based on what's best for him and his family."
Mason, a natural shooting guard, be- gan 2001-02 at point guard because of a season-ending injury to classmate Majestic Mapp, the projected starter at that position. Mason played more shooting guard once Virginia got into its ACC schedule. He finished the season as the Cavaliers' leader in five categories, including scoring (18.6 ppg), assists (4.1 per game) and free-throw percentage (88.1) but shot only 40.9 percent from the floor.
His season ended on a low note. In Virginia's first-round NIT loss to South Carolina, Mason scored only eight points, the first time in 40 games he'd failed to reach double figures.
Just when the waters of the Virginia basketball world seemed to settle down, the Cavaliers took another hit. The pain of missed potential was beginning to ease and the Cavalier community was feeling able to cut their losses and look toward next year. But yesterday, junior guard Roger Mason Jr. - the crown jewel of the Virginia program - announced he will enter the NBA draft, a decision Virginia fans recognized as a possibility for several weeks.
"Today I have submitted my name for consideration for the 2002 NBA draft," Mason said in a statement. "This decision was based on information suggesting that now is the optimal time for me to begin pursuing my chosen profession."
Mason will be eligible to return to Virginia if he does not retain an agent and withdraws his name from consideration by June 19, one week before the draft.
So there is to be a bittersweet taste left in the mouths of Virginia fans. They are left with pride in the player who now looks to confront the next challenge, mixed with a wish he would stay to ground the Cavalier squad for another season. Though it surely presented a difficult decision, Mason expressed confidence in his choice.
"I feel confident in my ability to play at the next level and I look forward to the challenges ahead," Mason said.
During the 2001-02 season, Mason proved indispensable to the Cavaliers, leading his team in scoring (18.6 points per game), assists (4.1 assists per game), free throw percentage (88 percent), field goals made (162) and three point field goals made (81). Yet Virginia still struggled and, according to many fans, failed to meet their lofty potential. Mason's loss will pose another challenge for the remaining players to overcome as they look to rally for next season.
"Roger is a great player and we really appreciate all he's done for the University of Virginia the past three years," Virginia coach Pete Gillen said after learning of Mason's decision. While he surely will miss Mason's talent and drive just as much, if not more, than any Virginia fan, Gillen also spoke for the University when he stressed that "we want what is best for Roger Mason Jr."
There's a lot we don't know about Roger Mason Jr.'s decision to declare himself eligible for the NBA draft June 26.
Has he signed with an agent, thus making him ineligible to play for Virginia next season? Probably not, but we can't know for sure until somebody asks him.
How high in the draft does he want to go and at what point would he exercise his option to return to school, rather than going through with the draft? Again, we don't know, but the answer to that question will help explain whether you'll see Mason next year in a Virginia uniform.
There is one thing we know for sure, though. Mason is making the best decision for his future right now. Anybody who says otherwise is either selfish or uninformed.
Mason isn't dumb. He's not entering the draft because he's burned bridges at his school - like Joe Forte did last year at UNC. He's not doing this because Mom can't survive without his paycheck or because his only reason for going to college was to play basketball.
I say this because, in the three years that I've known Mason, he's given me every indication that he's one of the most level-headed and smartest student-athletes in the Virginia program, and he wouldn't be swayed to make this choice out of haste. I've been in classes with Mason, interviewed him after games and sat on the bus next to him. He is well-spoken and reasonable, nothing like the money-obsessed, self-absorbed kids you see at other programs.
I can tell you right now that this is not a case of an athlete following the advice of all of the basketball vultures out there: the sneaky agents or the distant relatives thirsting for the bling bling.
This is Mason's choice. And it's the best one he's got.
It's time to leave
In the time Mason has been at Virginia, he's done wonders for the basketball program. When he arrived, the team was at rock bottom. It hadn't been ranked for three years. The last time that happened, I was 5-years-old.
Now, largely thanks to Mason's 30-point, why-isn't-he-an-All-American performance against Gonzaga in last year's NCAA tournament, Virginia's back on the national college basketball map. Sure, Chris Williams might have put up good numbers and Travis Watson might do the dirty work most of the time, but it was Mason who got Virginia where it is today.
So it's perfectly natural for Virginia fans to think he should stay in school: "One more year, Mase. With you and Watson, what would have been the best inside-outside combo in the conference next year, we coulda been a contender."
But you know what can happen in a year?
Mason could get hurt, like Chris Owens did this year at Texas.
He could be discovered as a fraud, a "system" player like Terrence Morris was at Maryland last season.
If he doesn't exercise his right to make the choice this year, he might not have the same choice next April.
Mason says he's going to finish school and get his degree. Vince Carter, Shaquille O'Neal and Juwan Howard did the same thing, and each got the best of both worlds from college, a great apprenticeship in their chosen profession and an education. That's the whole point of playing college ball anyway, right?
There's no telling where Mason might be picked in the draft right now. Your guess is as good as mine, and I've heard everything from a mid-first-round pick - which definitely would make Mason happy - to mid-second round.
Either way, it's not the job of fans to decide whether that should be good enough for Mason. It may be your team, but it's Roger Mason's life.
Luzar becomes fullback for U.Va.