FAIRFAX, Va. – Former Central Michigan student-athlete Nicolas Pavrette will join the George Mason University men's basketball team beginning in 2023-24, head coach Tony Skinn announced Tuesday.
 
A 6-foot-11-inch forward/center, Pavrette comes to Fairfax possessing a robust defensive pedigree and a natural ability to protect the rim.
 
"Nico's going to be an elite shot blocker," Skinn said. "I've been fortunate in the past to have guys like that at Seton Hall, including Ike Obiagu and Romaro Gill. Those guys have shown me, from a defensive standpoint, that there are some skills which can't be taught. The ability to protect the rim is one thing, but the ability to have a second jump is another. Nico can be that guy from a defensive standpoint."
 
A native of Lyon, France, Pavrette competed for the Chippewas from 2021-23. Over his two seasons, he saw action in 54 games and compiled 47 blocks. That included a team-high 29 rejections this past season for 1.0 per game.
 
"He's very versatile on the defensive end of the floor," Skinn said. "He still has some things to work on offensively, like all developing players do. He'll be able to guard one through four and when he's playing the five, maybe even guard one through five sometimes. A guy that can play those two positions is going have a chance to be on the floor."
 
Pavrette also excelled on the offensive glass as a sophomore, where he grabbed a team-best 52 over 29 games. He also shot a career-best 59.4 percent from the floor in 2022-23 while posting 4.6 points and 4.5 rebounds per contest.
 
Pavrette attended Central Pointe Christian Academy in Kissimmee, Fla. and played his AAU ball with the Riverside Hawks (NYC) in 2021, where he averaged 12 points per game.
 
A vital part of French National Basketball over the past few years, Pavrette averaged 14 points and nine rebounds at the 18U French Championship in 2019-20 and won a title at the 18U Group B competition in 2018-19.
 
Pavrette joins guard Jared Billups (Waldorf, Md./Siena), guard Darius Maddox (Bowie, Md./Virginia Tech), guard/forward Keyshawn Hall (Cleveland, Ohio/UNLV) and forward/center Amari Kerry (Norcross, Ga./UNC Wilmington) in Skinn's 2023-24 incoming class.