During practices when Jarred Reuter converts an offensive rebound into a 3-point play or drains a 3-pointer, it's inevitable to wish he were playing this season or project his abilities to next year's team.
 

Reuter's contributions this year are limited to practices as the red-shirt sophomore transfer from Virginia is forced to sit out a season by NCAA rules. Sure, Reuter (pronounced ROY-der) misses the excitement of game days, but he has adapted to being a red-shirt. The freedom of not having to peak for games means he can trash himself in workouts, on the court and in the weight room.

In addition to team practices, Reuter has been spending a lot of time with strength and conditioning coach Robert "Handy" Handerahan as well as assistant coaches polishing individual skills.
 

"It's been good. It's been useful in a lot of ways," said the 6-7 forward, who will have two seasons of eligibility with the Patriots. "You get to be in the weight room every day either for lifting or conditioning. I can really work on parts of my game that I want to improve and that I might not have time to work on during the season if I was playing."
 

Sitting on the bench during home games – Reuter is not allowed by NCAA rules to travel with the team to away games – also has proved beneficial in helping him see and understand the game from a different perspective.
 

"Coming to a new school where we're doing things a little differently -- running a different offense and a different defense – I think it's helped me get used to that," Reuter said. "Watching from afar, I can see where I maybe can score or how I can do things. Having a whole year of watching that gives me a good understanding of how we're doing stuff."
 

As member of the scout team, Reuter faces the starters in every practice, which has helped his game expand. He can score from the block or beyond the arc.

"Being that we're not very deep on the bench, my role in practice is pretty big, playing almost every rep," he said. "It's definitely good to go against a legitimate A-10 starting five every day."
 

As much as he benefits from playing against the regulars, the starters benefit from playing against Reuter.

"He's a really good player," Mason coach Dave Paulsen said. "He makes us better every day in practice. I'm a little frustrated, too -- I'd like to have him in a game."

Paulsen credits Reuter with an assist in helping freshman Greg Calixte, a 6-8 forward, develop into a productive starter: "He's been a good mentor to Greg. I think a lot of the credit for Greg's maturation certainly goes to Greg and (assistant coach) Aaron Kelly. But a lot of it goes to Jarred."
 

"He's vocal in practice; he's energized. I know it's hard for him to find that balance with his leadership when he's not playing. He's been a joy to have. We're excited. His game is expanding. I think this year has proven beneficial."

Last season Reuter played in 32 games for Virginia, averaging 3.8 ppg and 2.2 rpg. He wasn't sure of his future with the Cavaliers, now ranked No.2 in the country.

"I was progressing in getting more minutes," Reuter said. "But the way the roster was, I didn't know that I was going to be in the role I hoped to be by my third year. I thought maybe it was time to find a new place where I could be in that role."

Reuter and Paulsen connected during their conversations.

"He seemed very straightforward with me, which I appreciated," Reuter said. "I was kind of looking for that and someone who is tough and very, very competitive, which I didn't really pick up at the time of them recruiting me."
 

"But going through a summer of practices, which I love, that's really been a great positive for me, seeing how competitive he is. It pushes you and pushes the guys around you. You don't ever want to feel like your coach is wanting it more than you. Having him around like that, it pushes you."
 

Paulsen has pushed Reuter to expand his game from beyond the low post.  

"The ball handling and playing on the perimeter more and shooting from there was something I didn't do my first two years," Reuter said. "Having the time to work on that and get comfortable, hopefully I'll be able to put that in my game for next season."
 

Reuter, Paulsen and the team are looking forward to the red-shirt putting on a Mason jersey next season.

"We're going to see where his game can go – there are no preconceived notions," Paulsen said. "He's going to have a chance to be an impact player."