JAMESTOWN, N.D. - Mason Walters holds nearly every basketball record in the history of the University of Jamestown. When you ask Walters about all he's accomplished over the last four years, he's pretty down to earth about everything.
"If you told me where I am now, I wouldn't believe you either. It just goes to show what hard work can do." Walters said last week as Jamestown prepared to wrap its regular season.
Hard work and pure talent has put the six-foot-nine Walters as perhaps the best player in all of NAIA basketball. Walters has claimed nearly every major award during his four years at UJ, including twice over being named a first-team All-American. In November, Walters became the all-time leading scorer in school history.
He has one goal left to check off. Bringing a national championship to Jamestown.
"I'm just trying to stay focused. We've been to the Sweet 16 last two years, and we want to go further." Walters said. Jamestown reached the Elite Eight in March of 2021, the furthest the school has ever gone. They followed that up with 26 wins and a trip to the Sweet 16 in Kansas City last year.
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Walters decided to play for his hometown team after a state championship at Jamestown High. Walters was named Mister Basketball in 2019 after the Blue Jays capture the title.
No surprise here; Mason Walters wins the GPAC Player of the Year for the 2nd year in a row; story on him here: https://t.co/e4RUWQSMOG https://t.co/SiSu3tSsDm
— Dom Izzo (@DomIzzoWDAY) March 2, 2022
It's not just in Jamestown that Walters has a following. Folks around college basketball are starting to pay attention and how couldn't you?
"I don't know much that the guy can't do. I would say he's a top five player." University of Jamestown men's basketball coach Danny Neville said.
With his ridiculous numbers of 26 points, 10 rebounds per game and shooting 40 percent from three-point range, all at 6-9, there are bigger schools, Division 1 schools taking notice.
"I do have one season to play and would like to play that somewhere depending on where that would be. But first I want to go out on a high note in Jamestown."
It's been quite the road for the big man who had just three offers out of high school. But there's no chip on his shoulder, just appreciation.
"I really love being here, I can't imagine being anywhere else the last four years."
Jamestown earned the top seed for the Great Plains Athletic Conference tournament. They will host Hastings College Wednesday at 7:45. The GPAC tournament championship is slated for Tuesday, February 28.
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