Compiled by PAUL GOTHAM
Counting down to tipoff and previewing the incoming players of the Atlantic 10 with a look at the first-year players of the George Mason Patriots.
George Mason finished 11-21 (5-13 in A-10 play) last season and fell to Saint Louis in the opening round of the A-10 tournament.
Dave Paulsen and his staff welcome five players to campus: Ian Boyd, Justin Kier, Karmari Newman, Troy Temara and A.J. Wilson.
Ian Boyd G 6-3, 215 Apex, N.C./Apex H.S.
Prep: Four-year letterwinner in basketball and football at Apex High School in North Carolina… Named North Carolina Player of the Year and earned First Team All-State honors his senior year… Earned All-Conference Academic team during his first three school years… Played under Coach David Neal… Earned All State 3rd Team, NC All District 5 First Team and First Team SWAC All Conference honors as a junior… Was the MVP of the JD Lewis Summer League All-Star Game and the MLK Holiday Classic – NC Pro AM… Averaged 21.7 points per game, 6.8 rebounds per game and 3.4 assists per game as a junior… Added 38 steals and 15 blocks… Shot 50% from the field and 75% from the free throw line as a junior… Earned All Conference First Team, East All Regional Team, NC All District 5 Third Team, and News & Observer All Metro Basketball team honors as a sophomore… A state champion and MVP of the state championship as a sophomore… Was invited to Phenom Hoops Report NC Top 80 Elite Camp and Get Me Recruited Top Elite Camp… Averaged 15 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game and 2.9 assists per game as a sophomore… Added 36 steals and 20 blocks… Shot 48% from the field and 71.7% from the free throw line as a sophomore… Started as a freshman… Earned All-Conference Second Team honors during his freshman season… Averaged 12.9 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game and 2.1 assists per game as a freshman… Added 47 steals and 18 blocks… Shot 43.3% from the field and 75.9% from the free throw line as a freshman.
Personal: Ian Boyd… Born on Dec. 4, 1996… Son of Lee Boyd and Judy Rasberry… Plans to major in Sports Management.
What they’re saying about Ian Boyd – Jamie Shaw/Phenom Hoop Report: ““Also a standout football player. Playing in multiple Phenom Hoops AAU, HS, and exposure camps, Boyd consistently showed to be a lock down defender and a tough-minded attacking wing. He’s a winner.”
Justin Kier G 6-4, 182 Spotswood, Va./Spotswood High School
Prep: Two-year basketball letterwinner at Spotswood High School in Virginia… Played under Coach Chad Edwards… Received Valley District Player of the Year First team, Conference 29 Player of the Year First Team, Region 3 West Player of the Year First Team, Consensus First Team All State (VHSL, VHSCA, VA Preps), Daily News Record All Area Player of the Year and Virginia Preps All Underclassman Team honors his junior year… Led the team in efficiency for the second straight season… Led the team in points per game (21.1), rebounds per game (6.7), assists per game (5.1), deflections per game (7.2), recoveries per game (4.8) and free-throw percentage (86 percent) his junior year… Shot 52 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range his junior year… Team went 29-1 and finished second at state his junior year… Earned 1st Team All District and All Conference, 2nd Team All Region and All State, Daily News Record All Area Team and Virginia Preps All Underclassmen Team honors his sophomore year… Led the team in efficiency his sophomore year… Averaged 18.1 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game and 4.3 assists per game his sophomore year… Led the team in deflections per game (6), recoveries per game (2.9), Field Goal percentage (58 percent) and 3-point field goal percentage (44 percent) his sophomore year… Shot 79 percent from the free-throw line his sophomore year… Team went 28-2 and reached the state semifinals his sophomore year…Hit a game-winning shot in the state semifinals vs Bruton his freshman year… Team went 28-2 and finished second in state his freshman year… Member of the DECA club.
Personal: Justin Kier… Born on May 30, 1998… Son of Keley Kier and grandson of Evelyn Kier… Has one older sibling – Rasheed (20)… Hobbies include dancing, singing, traveling, cooking, and fishing… Major is undecided.
What they’re saying about Justin Kier – Jamie Shaw/Phenom Hoop Report: “Solid overall player. In high school he won a lot of games. Playing in Phenom Hoops AAU events, he played with great confidence. Kier has a solid handle, is a good athlete, and has a good middle game. Solid player.”
Karmari Newman G 6-4, 170 Detroit, Mich./East English Village Prep
Prep: Played basketball for four years at East English Village Preparatory Academy… Played under Coach Juan Rickman…Honor Roll student… School’s all-time leader in points scored and 3 point field goals made… 23 points per game, 6 rebounds per game, 4 assists per game and 1.5 steals per game as a junior… Led the Detroit Public School League in scoring as a junior… Earned First Team All-City and Second Team All-State honors as a junior… Received team’s Gym Rat Award… Helped East English Village win two district championships and two Detroit Public School League East championships.
Personal: Karmari Newman… Born on Mar. 10, 1998… Son of Angela Newman and Latanya Newman… Has 7 siblings – Jasmine (32), Santana (27), Telecia (26), Ralph (25), Christine (24), Miriah (21) and Yasmine (17)… Likes to play video games… Plans to major in criminal justice.
What they’re saying about Karmari Newman – Steve Schwanda/All Eyes On U Hoops: “Scorer, pure scorer who can score in a variety of ways. He is someone I always had in the top 5 in the state in this class. Long arms and very good athlete. Handles the ball a little but would never be a primary ball handler. I expect him to be able to score in college as well.”
Troy Temara F 6-8, Syracuse, N.Y./West Genesee H.S.
Prep: Attended West Genesee High School in Camillus, N.Y.… Led team in scoring (16.1 PPG), rebounding (9.0 RPG), blocks (2.55 BPG) and shot 43 percent from the field as a senior… Voted the Team MVP as a senior… Earned More Than A Game All Tournament MVP, First Team CNYCL All League and Jamesville-DeWitt All-Tournament accolades… Averaged 18.4 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, 2.0 blocks per game and shot 50 percentfrom the field as a junior… Earned Second Team CNYCL honors as a junior.
Personal: Troy Temara… His mother, Christine, earned four letters at Syracuse University (1980-84)… She became first women’s basketball player in program history to earn All-Big East First Team recognition… She played six years professionally in Europe.
What they’re saying about Troy Temara – Buddy Wleklinski/Head Coach Christian Brothers Academy: “If you’re talking about him physically, he’s as gifted as any player you’re going to see. You look at him body-wise at his size, he moves like a guard. Shoots the ball, runs the floor and gets off the floor. He’s the whole package. He’s tough to play inside. In high school he’d rather have been away from the basket. You had to guard him on the perimeter. Tough to keep off the boards. He has a great hook shot. Physically, he’s as good as anybody.”
Anthony A.J. Wilson F 6-6 Lanham MD/Elev8 Prep Academy
Prep: Attended Elev8 Prep Academy in Florida after playing at Montrose Christian and DuVal High School, both in Maryland… Led Elev8 Prep in blocks… Second in rebounding (7.5 rebounds per game) as a senior… Averaged 9.0 points per game… Earned All-Sentinel Team honors… Earned Under Armour All-America Top 80 ranking as a junior at Montrose Christian… Led team in rebounds (8.5 RPG) and blocks (3.5 BPG)… Second in scoring (10.0 PPG) as a junior at Montrose Christian… Led DuVal in rebounds per game (8.0), blocks per game (3.0) and second in points per game (12).
What they’re saying about A.J. Wilson – Jamie Shaw/Phenom Hoop Report: “Explosive, multi-positional defender who will make his greatest impact, early on that end of the floor.”
Steve Keller/National Recruiting Report: “He’s an athletic wing who can really shoot and play above the rim. He’s just got to put his pieces together. He could be pretty good.”
Biographical information courtesy of George Mason Athletics.
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