Boise State men’s basketball loses out on four-star recruit to Big East program

The Boise State men’s basketball team came up short in its pursuit of four-star guard Brandon Mason Jr. from Missouri basketball factory Link Academy.

Mason Jr., 247Sports’ No. 77 overall player nationally for the class of 2027, committed to Xavier over the weekend following an official visit. Mason Jr. had trimmed his list of numerous suitors to Boise State, Grand Canyon, New Mexico, Ohio and Xavier.

“I committed to Xavier because it just felt like home when I was out there, honestly,” Mason Jr. told Albuquerque TV station KRQE. Mason Jr. is an Albuquerque native and the son of Brandon Mason Sr., who was a former Lobos assistant coach.

Xavier is coached by Richard Pitino, who is coming off a 15-18 season in his first year at the helm. Pitino coached New Mexico from 2021-25 and made a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances, including a run to the second round in 2025.

“Getting to talk to coach Pitino and (assistant Isaac Chew), it just felt like being home out there.” Mason Jr. told KRQE.

The 6-foot-6, 175-pound Mason Jr. spent his first three high school seasons at ABC Prep, a startup academy founded by Mason Sr. in 2021. Link Academy is based in Branson, Missouri and plays a competitive national schedule.

Boise State still searching for 2027 commitment

Boise State and head coach Leon Rice do not have a commitment for the program’s 2027 recruiting class.

The Broncos signed two prep prospects last cycle: shooting guard Brady Hennig of Washington’s Mount Si High School and power forward Kaur Tomann from New York’s Long Island Lutheran.

The 6-foot-6 Hennig put up 19.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, three assists and 1.1 steals last winter for Mount Si. He helped carry the Wildcats to a 24-5 overall record and a fourth-place finish at the Class 4A state tournament.

Hennig is rated a three-star prospect and the nation’s No. 233 recruit in the 247Sports class of 2026 composite rankings.

An Estonian international, Tomann averaged 17.4 points, six rebounds and 4.3 assists while shooting 58 percent on three-pointers at the FIBA U18 European Championships. In 23 career appearances for Estonia’s U16 and U18 national teams, Tomann averaged 14.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

The 6-foot-9 Tomann tore his Achilles tendon last December but is expected to be available for the upcoming season.

Broncos reload after losing five starters

The Broncos, who lost all five starters from last year’s team, have six fifth-year seniors on the 2026-27 roster: guard Rayzhon Bergersen, forward Dovydas Butka, guard Brennan Ramirez, guard Ty Rodgers, guard Lamar Washington and guard Damari Wheeler-Thomas.

Rodgers, an Illinois transfer, could miss the entire season due to injury. Rodgers would be a candidate to receive a sixth year of eligibility.

Add us as a preferred source on Google