Future Watch: Frank Mason III Rookie Basketball Cards, Kings – For smaller players trying to reach the NBA, it can be a tough road. Every year there’s a player falling in the draft just because he doesn’t have the right size for his position. General managers will often cast aside a player’s accomplishments in college simply because of his height. You can imagine this would be quite frustrating for a prospect. For those that do make the NBA, they face an uphill climb, but past players of minimal height have shown there is a path to success. Sacramento Kings rookie point guard Frank Mason III is on that road right now. Standing only 5’11” (6’0” in shoes), Mason is looking to make an impact on the NBA after a fantastic college career.
Mason attended Petersburg High School in Petersburg, Virginia. Over his four year prep career, he scored 1,901 points. Second most in school history behind Hall of Famer Moses Malone. Pretty good company for a 6-foot guard. Mason had originally intended to play college ball for Towson University, but a failing grade in his senior year left him ineligible. He would attend Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, VA to make up for his failing grade. During that time, he was discovered by a coach from the University of Kansas.
The rest is history. Mason would go on to play four years for the Jayhawks, posting an overall record of 90-12. His college accolades are impressive. In 2015 and 2016 he was named Second-team All-Big 12. In 2016, he was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team. His senior year was spectacular. Mason averaged 20.9 points, 5.2 assists and 4.2 rebounds a game. He would earn Big 12 Player of the Year, the Bob Cousy Award and National College Player of the Year. Multiple outlets named him 2017 player of the year including the Associated Press, Sporting News, and USA Today. After four years in Lawrence, Mason would declare himself eligible for the 2017 NBA Draft.
Despite a legendary career at Kansas, many scouts knocked Mason’s size heading into the draft. There was plenty of praise for his speed and explosiveness, but you can’t read more than a paragraph without hearing about how his height. On draft day, Mason lasted 33 picks before Sacramento scooped him up at 34th overall. They may have found a gem.
A good comparison for Mason is Tyus Jones of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jones helped lead the Duke Blue Devils to a National Championship in 2015. In college, he was a star on the court, but when it came to draft day, height concerns caused him to fall. It took him awhile to carve out a role, but now he’s an essential back up for the playoff bound (as of this writing) Timberwolves.
Mason can follow that path for the Kings. This season, he’s played in 32 games, averaging 18.3 minutes per contest. His per game averages are 7.5 points, 2.9 assists and 2.1 rebounds. With 2017 fifth overall pick De’Aaron Fox soaking up starters minutes, Mason provides a nice compliment off the bench. Sacramento needs a bench guard to give them 20 high quality minutes a night, and Mason is perfectly capable of doing that. Fans in Sacramento love their Kings. Even if Mason is a bench player, they’ll still collect him if he’s playing well. Keep an eye on the Sacramento backcourt, they’re going places.
Frank Mason III already has some great autographed rookie cards in the market. They can be found in 2017 Panini Contenders Collegiate Draft Picks Basketball. As a draft pick, collectors can be assured to find NBA licensed rookie cards of Mason III in the complete portfolio of 2017-18 Panini NBA basketball card products during the 2017-18 NBA season.
Future Watch: Frank Mason III Rookie Basketball Cards, Kings – Other Resources
- NBA.com Player Profile – Frank Mason III
- Frank Mason III – Secondary Market Pricing
- Future Watch: 2017 NBA Draft Recap, Most NBA-Ready Players
- Future Watch: 2017 NBA Summer League Top Rookie Players
- NBA.Com
Future Watch: Frank Mason III Rookie Basketball Cards, Kings – Image Gallery
Here’s a look at cards featuring Frank Mason III in his Sacramento Kings uniform.
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