FAIRFAX, Va. – The George Mason University men's basketball program featured prominently in the 2024-25 Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) 2024-25 All-State Awards, announced Thursday.
Highlighting the major award winners, head coach Tony Skinn ('06) was named the VaSID Coach of the Year, while senior
Jared Billups garnered the state's Defensive Player of the Year award.
In addition, Billups was named to the All-State First Team, alongside senior
Jalen Haynes. Senior
Darius Maddox garnered a spot on the All-State Second Team. George Mason's five all-state awards and honors led all other Commonwealth programs.
Skinn shares the Coach of the Year Award with Liberty's Ritchie McKay. In 2024-25, Skinn led the Patriots to a share of their first-ever A-10 regular season title, the program's first NIT victory since 2004 and a school record-tying 27 overall victories. The Green & Gold set a new school record for Atlantic 10 league victories (15) and started league play 12-1 for the first time in the program's 59-year history. The Patriots locked up a double bye in the A-10 Tournament for the first time and reached a conference title game for the first time since 2009.
Billups, the A-10 Defensive Player of the Year, became George Mason's first conference Defensive Player of the Year since 2001 and was named a finalist for the Lefty Driesell Award, given to the nation's top defensive player. During the regular season, he ranked No. 33 nationally in individual defensive rating (DBPR), 25 spots higher than the next closest A-10 player. Opponents shot just 28.9 percent when being guarded primarily by Billups and the team's overall defensive rating is +13.1 when he is on the floor (97
th percentile nationally).
Haynes became just the second George Mason player in school history to earn a spot on the All-Atlantic 10 First Team. He was a dominant force in the post and as a playmaker throughout the season. He ranked second in the A-10 and 39
th nationally in field goal percentage (.554) and his 14.0 points/game in league play ranked first on the Patriots. He was fifth in the league in double-doubles (5), fifth in free throw attempts (187), seventh in rebounds/game (6.9) and 11
th in offensive rebounds/contest (1.97). He notched 10+ points in 27 games and scored 20 or more in seven contests.
Maddox earned a spot on the All-Atlantic 10 Third Team and also garnered A-10 All-Tournament Team honors after a tremendous conference postseason. In the A-10 Tournament, he averaged 14.0 points and 2.0 steals while shooting 37.5 percent from 3pt range. On the year, Maddox ranked second on the team in scoring (13.8 ppg) and proved to be the team's most consistent performer throughout the season. He notched 10+ points in a team-high 32 contests and 20+ point in five contests. He led the team in 3pt FG made (68) and minutes/game (32.3) and shot 38.9 percent (35-90) from 3pt range in A-10 play. His 135 3pt FG made in just two seasons rank 16
th all time at George Mason while he is first all time in free throw percentage (.873, 165-189) and t-10
th in career 3pt percentage (.380).
VaSID All-State Awards
Player of the Year - Brian Moore Jr., Norfolk State
Defensive Player of the Year - Jared Billups, George Mason
Rookie of the Year - Bryce Lindsay, James Madison
Coach of the Year - Tony Skinn, George Mason and Ritchie McKay, Liberty
First Team
Max Shulga, VCU
Jalen Haynes, George Mason
Isaac McKneely, Virginia
Brian Moore Jr., Norfolk State
Jared Billups, George Mason
Second Team
Mark Freeman, James Madison
Taelon Peter, Liberty
Kaden Metheny, Liberty
Darius Maddox, George Mason
Bryce Lindsay, James Madison
