Editor's note: The George Mason University men's basketball primer will take a look at storylines surrounding the Green & Gold heading into the team's much anticipated 2018-19 campaign. Check back throughout the preseason for features on GoMason.com.

By Hogan LePore
GoMason.com Staff Writer

Coast-to-coast might have a different meaning for Jamal Hartwell II when it comes to basketball.
 
The true freshman is roughly four months removed from a SoCal lifestyle, as Hartwell has begun his first semester at George Mason. A native of Inglewood, Calif., Hartwell has the feeling he was meant to play basketball.
 
"My love for basketball kind of just happened," Hartwell said. "My family always talks about my first birthday. They put out a soccer ball, football, basketball and baseball in front of me and I immediately picked up the basketball. From there on it has always been basketball."
 
Aside from stating that he is like every other college student, who enjoys playing Fortnite and eating four or five meals a day, Hartwell likes to go about his business and handle whatever tasks are laid out in front of him.
 
"I like to win," Hartwell said. "Being a competitor is a big part of my nature, I love the game of basketball."
 
For most students, the transition from high school to college is a difficult one. For Hartwell, the adjustment is even more strenuous given the fact that the guard has moved entirely across the country from Fairfax High School in California to Fairfax, Virginia.
 
Hartwell credits his father for making his college transition very smooth, allowing the freshman to keep his focus on basketball.
 
His father always keeps him on his toes as well, sending Hartwell tape of players to study throughout the semester in order to emulate their game; players like Chris Paul and Steve Nash.
 
On the court, Hartwell wants to be a lockdown defender. He discussed how that has been a difficult goal to attain, as he guards Otis Livingston II every day in practice.
 
"He is very good at using his body and changing direction," Hartwell discussed. "I have definitely learned a lot from him."
 
Assistant coach Dane Fischer, who helped recruit Hartwell out of Fairfax High School, sees very similar traits between the two guards, as they both can drive and score, along with being able to distribute the ball.
 
Fischer believes this could be the best position for Hartwell during his freshman season, because he has the opportunity to work with an all-league player in Livingston every day, and see how he works on the court and see the extra work Livingston puts in outside of practice.
 
"They are both really competitive and they're both really tough," Fischer said. "They've got a chip on their shoulder. Just like we've seen Otis [Livingston II] through his years here progress into a great player, I would expect Jamal to have the same type of improvement, because of how hard he works. Jamal has brought the right mindset here. He wants to work and wants to learn."
 
Part of the freshman's preparation for Division I basketball stems from his time in AAU basketball.
 
Hartwell participated with the Compton Magic, who have had many notable alumni, including Jordan Bell who helped the Golden State Warriors win the 2018 NBA title. Hartwell has also played with many great players during his time in AAU, playing constantly against Marvin Bagley III and Deandre Ayton, the top-two draft selections in the 2018 NBA Draft.
 
"AAU gave me confidence in myself, knowing I have played against those guys, and competed at a high level," Hartwell said. "It was an overall great experience, you are part of a brotherhood and it is like a second family."
 
While Hartwell values all the basketball knowledge he gained from AAU, the guard believes his father had the most impact on him both on the court and off of it.
 
For his fifth birthday, Hartwell's father bought him his first basketball hoop and ball to play. That day, his father had the freshman practicing layups from the right side and the left side. That coaching continued through Hartwell childhood, as his father was his basketball coach for many years.
 
"He was tough on me, but didn't treat me any different than other players," Hartwell said. "He was a life coach as well, he taught me a lot about life, even more so than basketball. I am just very thankful."
 
As for his inaugural season, Fischer believes Hartwell's goal should be to soak up all the information he can and taking advantage of the position he is in now.
 
"The big thing for him is to come in and learn how to work very hard, which he has done," Fischer said. "Learn what it takes to play at this level and embrace the opportunity of competing against one of the best guards in the Atlantic 10 every day. Really embracing the process of getting better and capitalizing on the opportunities in front of him."
 
Through his childhood, high school, AAU and now in college, the 5-foot-10-inch Hartwell has been on a mission to show his talent as a basketball player and he has no intention on stopping.
 
"I definitely play with a chip on my shoulder every day," Hartwell stated. "George Mason gave me this opportunity to play and I want to take advantage of that. I want to show everybody it doesn't matter about the height or the size of a player, but how much heart and athleticism that player has. I am going to come in here and do my best and try to help our team win."

2018-19 Men's Basketball Primer Archive
Oct. 23: Men's Basketball Visits Inova Children's Hospital
Oct. 18: Livingston II Tabbed to All-A-10 First Team; Patriots Picked Fourth
Oct. 15: Mason Madness Recap
Oct. 10: Men's Basketball Practice Update with Justin Kier
Oct. 9: Thoughts From Spain: Rohland Breaks Down the 2018-19 Patriots
Oct. 4: NCAA.com Names Mason's Reuter Top-15 Impact Transfer
Oct. 2: Bolton, Kier Represent Mason at A-10 Leadership Summit
Sept. 27: Andy Katz Picks Mason as National Sleeper Team
Sept. 25: Men's Basketball Holds First Practice

About the Patriots
George Mason is the only team in the nation which returns 100 percent of its scoring output from the 2017-18 campaign. Mason welcomes back every student-athlete from a team that placed fifth in the Atlantic 10. That finish marked Mason's best in its five-year tenure in the league. The Patriots will be led by 2018 All-Atlantic 10 preseason first team selection Otis Livingston II, who is one of just five Div. I players returning who has posted at least 1,400 points, 350 assists and 250 rebounds in a career. Mason was picked to finish fourth in the A-10 preseason poll, marking the team's highest-ever projected finish during its brief tenure in the league.
 
In addition to welcoming back all five 2017-18 starters, the Patriots also will add former University of Virginia forward Jarred Reuter (Marion, Mass.), as well as a recruiting class that features guards Jason Douglas-Stanley (Mount Vernon, N.Y.), Jamal Hartwell II (Inglewood, Calif.) and Jordan Miller (Middleburg, Va.).

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