FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason University men's basketball head coach Tony Skinn ('06) has announced that French forward Ryan-Preston Mendy will join the Patriot roster, beginning in 2025-26.
 
A product of Nanterre, France, Mendy recently wrapped up a stint with the ASVEL Basket U21 squad in Villeurbanne. The club is in the premier ProA league in France. 
 
"Ryan is extremely talented as a versatile, combo forward," Skinn said. "He has an outstanding motor and great length. Having played in the French League myself, I know how competitive it is at the U-21 level. As a staff, we were very impressed with his productivity with the volume of minutes he was playing. With the opportunity to develop more in the U.S., I think he has a chance to be a very good player."
 
Mendy averaged 8.1 points and 4.3 rebounds in 22 games for ASVEL this past season. He suited up for 27.3 minutes/contest and reached double figures in 10 contests. That included a season-best 18 points against Saint-Quentin in October.  
 
The 6-foot-7-inch forward suited up for his native Nanterre 92 U-21 team from 2022-24 and played in 41 games over two seasons. He played 11.8 minutes/contest during his sophomore season with the club in 2023-24 when Nanterre compiled a 17-7 mark on the year.
 
Mendy attended Joliot Curie Comprehensive School in Nanterre.

About The Patriots
Led by 2025 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year Tony Skinn ('06), George Mason is coming off the best season in the program's A-10 history. The Patriots earned a share of their first-ever A-10 regular season title, tallied the program's first NIT victory since 2004 and notched a school record-tying 27 overall victories. GMU also set a new school record for Atlantic 10 league victories (15) and reached the conference title game for the first time since 2009.
 
Senior guard Brayden O'Connor (9.1 ppg, 3.0 apg, 37.6 3pt FG%) returns from that squad and will join a talented roster of transfer players and incoming freshmen in 2025-26. The Patriots' transfer class ranks in the top-20 nationally amongst mid-majors by EvanMiya.com.