MBB: Landmark Conference

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Rockhurst is a bigger football school than basketball, but it's one of the major athletic programs in the state. It's a very good pedigree. He'll definitely have played in some big games.

[ronk]

Mason Thompson, 6'1" SG out of Rockhurst Prep (MO) is the latest Scranton commit:

https://twitter.com/Mase_Thompson11/status/1383243267039367169/

Not the post that we need, but he seems to be a solid shooter and playmaker who had some DII offers. 

Season Averages
PTS    REB   AST   STL   
12.18 5.05 2.95   1.5

With the difficulty in finding out this commit, I thought it might be Mase Thompson, someone outside Scranton's usual recruiting territory and social media.

[ronk]

Yes not Zach Rovinsky,He is and will be playing for Susquehanna Riverhawks(Crusaders),Will be interesting seeing that match up!Probably kill us the next 4 years.

Can understand reluctance to play/not play for covid or attend/not attend because of online/in person classes but switching to a different conference school?

[NEPAFAN]

Mason Thompson, 6'1" SG out of Rockhurst Prep (MO) is the latest Scranton commit:

https://twitter.com/Mase_Thompson11/status/1383243267039367169/

Not the post that we need, but he seems to be a solid shooter and playmaker who had some DII offers. 

Season Averages
PTS    REB   AST   STL   
12.18 5.05 2.95   1.5

With the difficulty in finding out this commit, I thought it might be Mase Thompson, someone outside Scranton's usual recruiting territory and social media.

Does Carl still have ties in the mid west for this one?

[Tim the Enchanter]

I wonder if it's more the Jesuit connection than Danzig's midwest ties.  Boken also came from a Jesuit high school...

[saratoga]

NEPA:
My guess is Danzig had little to do with this until Ryan boxed it up with a bow on top & handed it to him.
If Danzig had any ties back to the mid-west, he would have used them long before this.
With no inside game except for Emms, other teams will simply continue to overplay the guards & force them out deeper & deeper.
Could be a long year as there just isn't really much talented depth.

[KCHOOPSFAN]

NEPA:
My guess is Danzig had little to do with this until Ryan boxed it up with a bow on top & handed it to him.
If Danzig had any ties back to the mid-west, he would have used them long before this.
With no inside game except for Emms, other teams will simply continue to overplay the guards & force them out deeper & deeper.
Could be a long year as there just isn't really much talented depth.

Hey all, I recently found this forum and thought I would chime in with some info on Mason Thompson. I run a basketball training business in Kansas City, and I have been working with Mason since he was in 4th grade, I know him and his game probably better than anybody.

Mason had offers to play at every level of college basketball:
D1 = PWO offer at UMKC
D2 = multiple schools, local and in Texas
D3 = Multiple schools in the northeast, stemming from his performance at the Penn University Elite camp before his senior season
NAIA = A school in Kansas where his older brother plays

The reason Mason chose Scranton was success of the program and the family feel, which came from both the coaches and players. Scranton was the first school to ever tell him that they are actively recruiting him. The Scranton coaching staff thoroughly out recruited every other school on his list. Their ability to develop a relationship with him was second to none. I will admit, I am confused by the criticism of coach Danzig on here. He does have the highest winning percentage of any coach in Scranton history, and is on track to retire as the winningest Scranton coach ever. Not sure what else you can ask of the guy. Ryan played a huge role in recruiting Mason, he is an incredible recruiter, but without coach Danzig, Mason would not have chosen Scranton. They share that Kansas City bond, coach Danzig was instrumental in convincing Mason's parents that Scranton was a great place. Mason's father is very picky about colleges, he was initially not wanting to send a kid to Scranton (because he knew nothing about it), but coach Danzig changed his mind.

As far as what you are getting in Mason, just know that nobody on the team will outwork him, he is an extremely intelligent kid (first team academic all state in Missouri), he will do whatever is asked of him, and he is an incredible teammate. With his signing, one thing I can tell you with is that you have a new best ball-handler on your team. I haven't seen many kids who can handle it better than Mason, I'm hoping he will get to showcase that at Scranton.

He was first team all-district, and honorable mention all-metro in Kansas City, playing both point guard and shooting guard. He lead his team in every major statistical category except rebounds (he was 2nd in rebounding). He did play at a very competitive school, playing with and against tons of D-1 players throughout his time at Rockhurst, in Missouri's largest class. He also played for a great AAU program, team YOBO, which also produced Loyola's Clayton Custer, along with many other D-1 talents.

I am certainly not trying to promise that Mason is going to come on campus and be dominant for you. I definitely wouldn't place those expectations on his career before he even graduates high school. I am excited to see how his career unfolds though, and with this post I am merely trying to come on here and offer you some background on who he is, because I saw some speculation.

From what I have seen of the University of Scranton, I am thrilled for Mason. I think this is a perfect fit between player and school. I look forward to talking hoops on this board for the next few years with you guys, I thought it was really cool to see how passionate you guys are about Scranton hoops.

Go Royals!

[NJRoyal137]

NEPA:
My guess is Danzig had little to do with this until Ryan boxed it up with a bow on top & handed it to him.
If Danzig had any ties back to the mid-west, he would have used them long before this.
With no inside game except for Emms, other teams will simply continue to overplay the guards & force them out deeper & deeper.
Could be a long year as there just isn't really much talented depth.

Hey all, I recently found this forum and thought I would chime in with some info on Mason Thompson. I run a basketball training business in Kansas City, and I have been working with Mason since he was in 4th grade, I know him and his game probably better than anybody.

Mason had offers to play at every level of college basketball:
D1 = PWO offer at UMKC
D2 = multiple schools, local and in Texas
D3 = Multiple schools in the northeast, stemming from his performance at the Penn University Elite camp before his senior season
NAIA = A school in Kansas where his older brother plays

The reason Mason chose Scranton was success of the program and the family feel, which came from both the coaches and players. Scranton was the first school to ever tell him that they are actively recruiting him. The Scranton coaching staff thoroughly out recruited every other school on his list. Their ability to develop a relationship with him was second to none. I will admit, I am confused by the criticism of coach Danzig on here. He does have the highest winning percentage of any coach in Scranton history, and is on track to retire as the winningest Scranton coach ever. Not sure what else you can ask of the guy. Ryan played a huge role in recruiting Mason, he is an incredible recruiter, but without coach Danzig, Mason would not have chosen Scranton. They share that Kansas City bond, coach Danzig was instrumental in convincing Mason's parents that Scranton was a great place. Mason's father is very picky about colleges, he was initially not wanting to send a kid to Scranton (because he knew nothing about it), but coach Danzig changed his mind.

As far as what you are getting in Mason, just know that nobody on the team will outwork him, he is an extremely intelligent kid (first team academic all state in Missouri), he will do whatever is asked of him, and he is an incredible teammate. With his signing, one thing I can tell you with is that you have a new best ball-handler on your team. I haven't seen many kids who can handle it better than Mason, I'm hoping he will get to showcase that at Scranton.

He was first team all-district, and honorable mention all-metro in Kansas City, playing both point guard and shooting guard. He lead his team in every major statistical category except rebounds (he was 2nd in rebounding). He did play at a very competitive school, playing with and against tons of D-1 players throughout his time at Rockhurst, in Missouri's largest class. He also played for a great AAU program, team YOBO, which also produced Loyola's Clayton Custer, along with many other D-1 talents.

I am certainly not trying to promise that Mason is going to come on campus and be dominant for you. I definitely wouldn't place those expectations on his career before he even graduates high school. I am excited to see how his career unfolds though, and with this post I am merely trying to come on here and offer you some background on who he is, because I saw some speculation.

From what I have seen of the University of Scranton, I am thrilled for Mason. I think this is a perfect fit between player and school. I look forward to talking hoops on this board for the next few years with you guys, I thought it was really cool to see how passionate you guys are about Scranton hoops.

Go Royals!

Thanks so much for sharing - it is encouraging and refreshing! Best of luck to Mason, I hope he wins a title for us!

[NJRoyal137]

New Scranton president touring the Quinn athletic campus:

https://twitter.com/coachdavemartin/status/1385305094451781644

I took a trip there last year and gotta say, it is impressive - gives off a "mid major D1" feel, the baseball field is outstanding.

Let's hope "excited about the future" means A LOT more investment in athletics and students / alumni engagement around athletics.

[ronk]

NEPA:
My guess is Danzig had little to do with this until Ryan boxed it up with a bow on top & handed it to him.
If Danzig had any ties back to the mid-west, he would have used them long before this.
With no inside game except for Emms, other teams will simply continue to overplay the guards & force them out deeper & deeper.
Could be a long year as there just isn't really much talented depth.

Hey all, I recently found this forum and thought I would chime in with some info on Mason Thompson. I run a basketball training business in Kansas City, and I have been working with Mason since he was in 4th grade, I know him and his game probably better than anybody.

Mason had offers to play at every level of college basketball:
D1 = PWO offer at UMKC
D2 = multiple schools, local and in Texas
D3 = Multiple schools in the northeast, stemming from his performance at the Penn University Elite camp before his senior season
NAIA = A school in Kansas where his older brother plays

The reason Mason chose Scranton was success of the program and the family feel, which came from both the coaches and players. Scranton was the first school to ever tell him that they are actively recruiting him. The Scranton coaching staff thoroughly out recruited every other school on his list. Their ability to develop a relationship with him was second to none. I will admit, I am confused by the criticism of coach Danzig on here. He does have the highest winning percentage of any coach in Scranton history, and is on track to retire as the winningest Scranton coach ever. Not sure what else you can ask of the guy. Ryan played a huge role in recruiting Mason, he is an incredible recruiter, but without coach Danzig, Mason would not have chosen Scranton. They share that Kansas City bond, coach Danzig was instrumental in convincing Mason's parents that Scranton was a great place. Mason's father is very picky about colleges, he was initially not wanting to send a kid to Scranton (because he knew nothing about it), but coach Danzig changed his mind.

As far as what you are getting in Mason, just know that nobody on the team will outwork him, he is an extremely intelligent kid (first team academic all state in Missouri), he will do whatever is asked of him, and he is an incredible teammate. With his signing, one thing I can tell you with is that you have a new best ball-handler on your team. I haven't seen many kids who can handle it better than Mason, I'm hoping he will get to showcase that at Scranton.

He was first team all-district, and honorable mention all-metro in Kansas City, playing both point guard and shooting guard. He lead his team in every major statistical category except rebounds (he was 2nd in rebounding). He did play at a very competitive school, playing with and against tons of D-1 players throughout his time at Rockhurst, in Missouri's largest class. He also played for a great AAU program, team YOBO, which also produced Loyola's Clayton Custer, along with many other D-1 talents.

I am certainly not trying to promise that Mason is going to come on campus and be dominant for you. I definitely wouldn't place those expectations on his career before he even graduates high school. I am excited to see how his career unfolds though, and with this post I am merely trying to come on here and offer you some background on who he is, because I saw some speculation.

From what I have seen of the University of Scranton, I am thrilled for Mason. I think this is a perfect fit between player and school. I look forward to talking hoops on this board for the next few years with you guys, I thought it was really cool to see how passionate you guys are about Scranton hoops.

Go Royals!

I appreciate your comprehensive description of what Scranton can expect of Mason as a student and ball player. It's been more than a decade since we have had a high quality PG and I'm looking forward to his play. The opportunity/need certainly is there.
I've been a Scranton basketball observer since Coach Danzig's father was a college hooper and agree that Ryan is a tireless recruiter. Welcome to the chat board; we're here year round. Hopefully, it will be a fruitful choice for Mason.

[KCHOOPSFAN]

I appreciate your comprehensive description of what Scranton can expect of Mason as a student and ball player. It's been more than a decade since we have had a high quality PG and I'm looking forward to his play. The opportunity/need certainly is there.
I've been a Scranton basketball observer since Coach Danzig's father was a college hooper and agree that Ryan is a tireless recruiter. Welcome to the chat board; we're here year round. Hopefully, it will be a fruitful choice for Mason.
[/quote]

It's a great opportunity for Mason for sure. That's awesome that you've been observing Scranton basketball for that long, hopefully the best is yet to come!

[Tim the Enchanter]

@KCHoopsFan:  Thanks for the insight!  From what little I've seen and heard, Mason sounds like a great, heady and hardworking player.  From seeing what other schools were looking at him, I am happy that he chose Scranton and look forward to what he can bring to the team and the University over the next four years!

[NJRoyal137]

Looks like we have another Scranton recruit:

https://twitter.com/grpssupt/status/1385663737827315714

12.4 PPG for Glen Rock HS in NJ.

[KCHOOPSFAN]

That seems like pretty big news. Kid is 6'7". Instantly the tallest guy on the team. From his highlights it looks like he can hit threes and he moves pretty well for his size.

[Tim the Enchanter]

McLoughlin was actually the first commit to this class back in October:

https://twitter.com/NJHoops/status/1314311066709614592

His school is just getting around to publicizing it, I guess.

Besides him and Thompson, there is one other known commit from back in November:  PG Colin Merriman out of Camden Catholic

https://twitter.com/ColinMerrim9/status/1329175457284169729

It looks like a good class, but I think the team could still use a little more frontcourt depth.