By SAM LANCE
NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Class of 2025 four-star small forward Mason Blackwood will visit Penn State starting Sept. 7, he told ZAGSBLOG. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound wing from New Hampton School (NH) and the City Rocks Nike EYBL AAU program has already taken Rutgers in June.
Mason Blackwood of @TheCityRocks will visit Penn State starting September 7th, he told https://t.co/8WGMjswM2c. pic.twitter.com/L9eZKQRVF0
— Sam Lance (@slancehoops) July 14, 2024
Most recently, Blackwood helped City Rocks to a 3-2 record in pool play of Peach Jam. The wing averaged 9.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game playing in one of the toughest pools of the tournament. City Rocks faced Arizona Unity, Boo Williams, Nightrydas Elite, SFG and Team Herro.
As for other programs in the mix for Blackwood, he’s hearing from Texas A&M, West Virginia, Oklahoma and Texas as well. The Longhorns are a newer school in his recruitment and haven’t extended an offer yet.
Blackwood evaluated some of the programs involved in his recruitment:
Texas A&M: “It’s just a great school. Their coaching staff, they really like me. They keep in touch with me day by day. So it’s nice.”
Rutgers: “Coach T.J. [Thompson] is always reaching out every day. That’s my guy. I went there on a visit. Nothing but love. So that’s what’s up. The facility, the players, the coaching staff, they really showed love. And it was like genuine.”
One Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper playing there next year: “It’s going to be crazy. They definitely got a squad there. I came to watch their practice. It was active, high energy. So it was good vibes over there. They got a positive season coming up.” Visit was in late June.
Penn State: “Coach [Jimmy] Martelli is always reaching out, showing love. He’s always calling me, talking to me after the games. I think I’m going to take a visit there Sept. 7.”
West Virginia: “Just same thing. They’ve just been showing love, reaching out like every day. Well not every day, every here and there showing up to the games. Head coach coming out here to watch, support.”
Oklahoma: “Coach [Ryan] Humphrey, great dude. He’s been reaching out. That’s my guy. Again, just reaching out for sure because to commit I want to go to a school that’s a family, always recruiting. So, yeah.”
Blackwood plans to cut his list soon.
“I’ll probably make a list after Peach I’ll say for sure,” Blackwood said. “And then I’ll just go on those visits in the fall before my school year.”
Blackwood has some family ties to hoops. His father, Marcus Blackwood, played hoops at Alfred State in Albany.
The small forward is ranked the No. 124 overall prospect in the class of 2025 by 247Sports. Blackwood describes himself as a finisher and great catch-and-shoot option.
“And I’m very coachable,” Blackwood said. “Just a dog. I’m trying to get after it on the defensive end, offensive end. Just no plays off.”
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