Staten Island, NY – Head men's basketball coach
Bashir Mason has announced the signings of a pair of 6-4 guards in Jordan Mason of Hanson, MA and Atiba Taylor of Hackensack, NJ, each of whom will begin their academic and athletic careers at Wagner College in the 2019-20 season.
Jordan Mason
Freshman
6-4, 190 Guard
Hanson, MA / Dexter Southfield
Jordan Mason is an athletic, skilled and versatile guard with uncommonly deep three-point range who played for Coach George Wright-Easy at Dexter Southfield School in Brookline, MA. As a junior in 2017-18, Mason averaged 23.1 points and 8.2 rebounds in leading his team to the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Class B championship. In one game, he knocked down nine three-pointers vs. Gann Academy. As a senior, he returned from injury to average 18.2 points and 7.4 rebounds in leading the Maroon and Silver to another appearance in the NEPSAC class B Tournament, highlighted by a game vs. Lee Academy where he hit seven three-pointers in the second half alone. In his high school career, Mason scored 30 or more points in a game on 11 different occasions. Mason, who plays the game with tremendous tenaciousness and passion, earned a reputation as on one of the top on the ball defenders in all of New England. In addition to being a standout on a talent-laden Dexter Southfield team that included 7'0" Wake Forest University commit Charles Coleman, Mason further honed his talents while competing for the Wrightway Skills AAU program.
Bashir Mason on Jordan Mason
"Jordan Mason brings an alpha male mentality that our program is really going to enjoy having. He's a knock-down shooter with unbelievable range, who's very confident, extremely competitive and energetic on both ends. Jordan's just very passionate in the way he plays the game and is a vocal kid with outstanding leadership skills. On top of it all, he's one of the toughest kids you'll find."
Atiba Taylor
Sophomore
6-4, 180 Guard
Garfield, NJ / Hackensack HS / Youngstown State
Atiba Taylor is a 6-4, 180-pound, left-handed point guard who is transferring back East to Wagner from Youngstown State where he spent one season. Taylor starred at Hackensack High School where he scored 1,345 career points for the Comets. As a senior in 2017-18, he averaged 17.2 points, 7.3 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game in leading his team to a 23-7 record and an appearance in the Group IV state sectionals. Playing in front of a sold-out crowd in a state semifinal victory over North Bergen High School, the crafty and skilled playmaker poured in 30 points, draining five three-pointers in the contest. As a junior at Hackensack, he tallied 21.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists per contest. In his one season at Youngstown State, Taylor saw action in 11 games for the Penguins.
Bashir Mason on Atiba Taylor
"Atiba Taylor had a huge reputation while playing at high a level in high school and AAU ball. We're hoping that to have him back in an area where he is comfortable, with people he's familiar with, that we have our point guard of the future. He's a guy who has a really good feel for the game, who's also an excellent passer with the ability to score and take over games. We're looking for Atiba to lead us out on there on the floor. I feel he and I have a lot in common, both lefty pass-first point guards, and I'm really looking forward to coaching him."
Mason and Taylor join a Wagner recruiting class that includes 6'11" 250-pound center DeAndre Wilkins of Edenton, NC and 6'7" 230-pound forward Ja'Mier Fletcher of Pittsburgh, PA, each of whom
signed national letters of intent on April 17, along with 6'7", 190-pound Massachusetts forward
Darion Jordan-Thomas from Woodstock Academy (CT), who committed to the Seahawks during the early signing period in November.
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