Coach Kim English already having a major effect on George Mason Basketball

When George Mason Basketball hired Kim English, you could feel a shift in George Mason basketball.

New President, Dr. Gregory Washington, sent a signal to Mason Nation and the Atlantic 10 that George Mason was fully committed to being competitive in the conference.

The first thing English did was try to re-recruit players in the Transfer Portal. That effort has had mixed results. Arguably, English got the most important player, Josh Oduru (PVI, Team Takeover), to return to Fairfax.

The junior big man has improved each season. He had career-highs in points and rebounds but free throw shooting is still an issue. There is also the question of fit. English hasn’t been shy is saying he wants to bring in a 4-out-1-in offense that resembles Alabama. With Oduro be athletic enough in those sets? Will he be able to stretch the floor enough to keep driving wings open? Time will tell and with English’s commitment to bring Oduro back, you have to think that he’ll tinker with the offense around the junior big man’s strengths.

On the flip side, Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, Tyler Kolek (Marquette), and third-team all-conference, Jordan Miller (Miami-FL) decided to move on to bigger conferences. A string of other players, including George Mason’s all-time leading shot-blocker, AJ Wilson (South Carolina) have decided to seek new beginnings.

The open slots in the roster will serve the Patriots well as English hit the Transfer Portal.

Devon Cooper (Morehead State), D’Shawn Schwartz (Colorado), and Davonte Gaines (Tennessee) have all committed to coming to George Mason.

Cooper was an all-conference guard in the Ohio Valley Conference. He was named to the OVC all-tournament team as he averaged 17 points and 4.7 assists en route to leading Morehead State to the OVC conference tournament title.

Schwartz and Gaines have ties to two of English’s previous stops. Schwartz played at Colorado where English served as an assistant under Tad Boyle. The Grad Transfer was a 1,000-point scorer with the ability to knock down three-pointers. If Schwartz continues to be a lethal three-point shooter, it will help space the floor. Spacing is essential to any 4-out-1-in offensive concept.

Gaines adds something George Mason desperately needs, length, athleticism, and perimeter defense to the roster.

When you add the transfers to a roster that includes veterans like Jamal Hartwell and up-and-comers like Otis Frazier and Ronny Polite, you understand why there’s excitement building around Mason basketball.

The effect that English has made on the program can already be felt.