SoCon Basketball: Ranking of 25 best players from last decade (2013-23)

By Joey Loose | Aug 25, 2023

Mar 23, 2019; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Wofford Terriers guard Fletcher Magee (3) leads his team in a huddle before their game against the Kentucky Wildcatsin the second round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /

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SoCon Basketball Chattanooga Mocs forward Z. Mason Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

14. Z. Mason

Truly a unique journey to stardom in the SoCon, Mason was actually a football player at Ole Miss for two seasons before arriving at Chattanooga in 2011. A 6’6 forward from Nashville, he was a minor player early in his basketball career but became one of the Mocs’ best players in his final seasons, including his senior season under new head coach Will Wade.

We’re just able to focus on his senior season, which started in 2013, but Mason saved his best play for last. He’d average 18.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game with decent shooting numbers, helping lead Chattanooga to a 2nd place finish in the SoCon, quite the bounce back for the program. He had a 41-point game against non-D1 Hiwassee and some fantastic rebounding efforts during conference play, emerging as Chattanooga’s best player.

For that impressive senior season, Mason was named First Team All-SoCon and the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. He led the league in blocks and rebounds and was 4th in scoring, becoming quite the well-rounded piece for the Mocs. This former football player developed into quite the frontcourt weapon in the SoCon and was certainly a welcomed sight when Wade took over the program in 2013.