FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason University men's basketball head coach Dave Paulsen announced Wednesday that Jamal Hartwell II has signed a national letter of intent to join the Patriots this fall.
 
The 5-foot-11-inch point guard from Los Angeles, Calif., will be a fitting addition to the Green & Gold in 2018-19. A product of Fairfax High School in LA, Hartwell II will now head to Fairfax, Va., to begin a promising college career for the Patriots.
 
"We're excited to welcome Jamal to the Mason Family," Paulsen said. "He is a pure point guard who has the ability to handle the ball against pressure, attack in transition, or run a half court offense. He creates for others but also is a dynamic scorer in his own right. We can't wait to get started working with Jamal."
 
Widely regarded as one of the top West Coast point guards in the Class of 2018, Hartwell II starred at Fairfax High School under head coach Steve Baik, while leading the Lions to the 2018 Southern California Open Division Final Four. The Open Division is considered the top level of competition in the Golden State.
 
A two-time Los Angeles All-CIF City Section Team pick, Hartwell II also earned Open Division All-City honors for the second-consecutive year as a senior.
 
Hartwell II is a three-time All-Western League honoree and was named the conference's MVP in 2017 and 2018.
 
In addition to leading the Lions to the Final Four in 2018, Hartwell II also helped guide Fairfax to the 2015 Los Angeles Open Division City Championship.
 
He is a two-time Iolani Classic All-Tournament Team selection and also was named to the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic All-Tournament three times in his high school career.
 
Hartwell joins an incoming freshman class of Mason student-athletes that includes guard Jason Douglas-Stanley (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) and forward Jordan Miller (Purcellville, Va.).