Editor's Note: To celebrate 50 Years of George Mason University men's basketball in 2016-17, Voice of the Patriots Bill Rohland put together a decade-by-decade breakdown of his best players to wear the Green & Gold. Check back to GoMason.com weekly in August and September as another decade is unveiled. Have your own all-decade teams or want to talk more with Bill on his selections? Reach out to him via Twitter at @BillRohland.

By Bill Rohland

Photo Caption (L to R): Myron Contee, Andre Gaddy, Carlos Yates, Ric Wilson, Amp Davis

Mason basketball moved to Division I status during this decade and by the end of this 10 year period made their first post season tournament in the 1986 NIT, defeating Lamar in the first round before falling to Providence. 

Our Player of the Decade Carlos Yates (1981-85) missed the NIT tournament by a season but he certainly didn't miss much else while playing for Mason.  Yates is still the all-time leading scorer (2420 points) and scored all those points BEFORE the NCAA instituted the 3 point line.  No telling how many more points the sharp shooting Yates would have scored with it. Yates is also Mason's all-time leader in career free throws made (690) and attempted (921) and holds the single game record of 42 points.  He was also named AP All America (honorable mention) all four season at George Mason and many consider him the best player ever to wear a Mason uniform.

All Decade Team:
Andy Bolden 1980-1984…6-1 guard scored over 1,000 points in just 70 games...1980 ECAC South Rookie of the Year/All ECAC South 1^st team

Myron Contee 1974-1979…5-11 guard…only Mason player with 400 assist (411) and 400 rebounds (499)…holds single season steals record with 96

Amp Davis 1984-1988…5-10 guard…sharp shooter hit 48% of his career 3's, good for second all time…#3 on the single season assist list (176)

Ricky Dillard 1980-1984…6-4 forward…#8 all time in career FG% (.564) impressive freshman year averaging 7.5p/5.8r per game

Andre Gaddy 1977-80, 81-82…6-10 PF…one of the best big men in Mason history…1568 points…916 rebounds…174 blocks…1980 All-ECAC South Team...1982 NBA draft pick (Houston)

John Niehoff  1980-1984…5-10 pg…finished his career #2 in total assists (311-now #7 all time)…hit over 77% of his FT's…4^th all-time in steals (152)

Rob Rose  1982-1986…6-5 guard…over 1500 points/800 rebounds…4^th career FG%...two-time All-CAA selection…top 10 in career scoring, rebounds, steals, blocks, FT%

Dave Skaff  1977-1981…6-6 forward…1365 career points…averaged 20.1p/5.8r a game his senior year…77% FT shooter for his career

Ric Wison   1982-1986…1505 points/405 assists…Third round pick in 1986 NBA draft (Bulls)…hit game winning shot in 1986 NIT vs Lamar…Three-time All-ECAC/CAA league team