FAIRFAX, Va. – George Mason University men's basketball head coach Tony Skinn ('06) has announced that Makhai Valentine will join the Patriot roster this coming season.
 
A 6-foot-3-inch guard from Munhall, Pa., Valentine averaged a career-best 13.3 points and shot 35.8 percent from 3pt range during his sophomore campaign at Northern Illinois.
 
"Makhai has a level of athleticism and pop that we needed more of this past season," head coach Tony Skinn ('06) said. "He's also a very good, volume shooter with strong mechanics. With the pieces we're putting around him, he's going to have the ability to be much more efficient. He's also an excellent rebounder at his position. I'm very excited about his overall game."
 
Valentine started all 29 of his games for the Huskies in 2025-26 and scored at least 10 points in 23 contests. He led the team in scoring, 3pt FG made (69) and steals (1.0 rpg) and ranked second in rebounding (5.3 rpg). Valentine placed fourth in the Mid-American Conference in free throw percentage (.813) and was sixth in 3pt FG made/game (2.38).
 
He scored at least 20 points in four games, including a career-best 27 at Kent State on Jan. 3.
 
Valentine suited up for 13 games during his freshman season at Missouri State, where he averaged 3.9 points, shot 51.7 percent from the field and made a strong 47.4 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
 
A graduate of Steel Valley High School, Valentine garnered 3A Player of the Year accolades from the Pennsylvania Sports Writers as a senior and also was named the Pittsburgh Union Progress Player of the Year. A three-time all-state selection, he averaged 33.7 points as a senior and 29.4 points a junior, when he led his team to the state semifinals. He complete a post-graduate year at Link Year Prep in Branson, Mo., in 2023-24.
 
Valentine joins Baraka Okojie (Brampton, Ontario/Mercer), Emmett Adair (Sydney, Australia/Loyola (Md.)), Efeosa Oliogu-Elabor (Markham, Ontario/Butler), Lilian Marville (Orleans, France/UNCG) and Michael Marcus Jr. (Indian Trail, N.C./Appalachian State) in George Mason's talented transfer class. They will suit up alongside a group of Patriot returners which includes 2025-26 Preseason All-A-10 First Team selection Brayden O'Connor, Emmanuel Kanga, Malik Presley and Ryan-Preston Mendy.

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