Freshman Class: 2024
Meet the Paladins newest freshman recruit
Mason Smith - Huntersville, North Carolina
High school recruiting seems to have slipped in importance for college basketball since the incredible rise of the transfer portal the last couple of years. The Furman program under Bob Richey, however, is deeply rooted in development, and cannot just rely on bringing in six or seven new transfers to make up the team year in and year out. This is why most transfers Coach Richey commits to have more than one year of eligibility. And again in 2024, the Paladins have not given up on the recruiting trail.
Mason Smith is the lone high school commit for Furman’s 2024 class. Smith transferred for his senior season of high school basketball, transferring to Davidson Day from William A. Hough High School, inviting a step up in competition and continuing to produce. The 6-foot-7 forward led Davidson Day to a 24-7 record while averaging over 15 points per game. Smith’s most impressive stat is his 3-point shooting, hitting over 40% from deep as his team won the 2A North Carolina State Championship.
Originally committed to Mercer, Smith reopened his commitment after Greg Gary's departure due to a lack of success in Macon. Along with Furman, High Point, UNC-Asheville, Drake, Chattanooga, and College of Charleston jumped into his recruitment. Smith was one of the top unsigned players in North Carolina before choosing to join the Paladins this year.
The young freshman will likely have a limited role for the 2024-2025 basketball season. With a deep team and two freshmen both coming off redshirt seasons, Smith will not need to play immediately. He will most likely wait for significant minutes and growth in his sophomore year season and may even receive a redshirt. Smith, combined with Eddrin Bronson, Tommy Humphries, and Cooper Bowser, forms a promising core for Furman's future basketball seasons.
Check out some of his senior season highlights below: