Editor's note: The 2017-18 George Mason University men's basketball primer will take a look at storylines surrounding the Green & Gold heading into a season filled with potential and fresh faces. Check back throughout the preseason for features on GoMason.com.

By Damian Cristodero

For Jaire Grayer, the best thing about this year's Fresh Flint Festival was the smiles on the children's faces.

The George Mason University junior, a starting guard on the Patriots men's basketball team, ran a shooting clinic at the April event in Flint, Mich.

"Just a great day to help take their minds off things, and to inspire people to have a good time," Grayer said recently.

Flint has been in crisis since 2014, when the city switched its water source from Detroit's system to the polluted Flint River, a move that contributed to contaminated drinking water and a massive, ongoing effort to replace the city's aging iron and lead pipes.

To read the full story, click here.

2017-18 Men's Basketball Primer Archive
Oct. 2: Mason holds first official practice

About The Patriots
George Mason put together a turnaround campaign in 2016-17 while registering the 13th 20-win season in school history. In head coach Dave Paulsen's second season leading the program, Mason set a new program record for Atlantic 10 victories (9) and its 20 overall wins were the most by the program since 2012-13. After winning 11 games total and five A-10 contests in 2015-16, Mason ranked as of the nation's 20 most improved teams this past season. The Patriots return three starters heading into the 2017-18 campaign.

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