Men's Basketball Announces 2024 Signing Class
11/9/2023 11:08:00 AM | Men's Basketball
MACON - Mercer men's basketball head coach Greg Gary added some additional depth to his 2024-25 roster on Wednesday when Illinois native Braeden Carlsen and North Carolinian Mason Smith inked their names to National Letters of Intent to continue their academic and athletic careers with the Bears.
Of the incoming athletes, Head Coach Greg Gary says, "We are extremely excited to add Mason and Braeden to the Bear family for the '24 class. Both possess ultra competitiveness and skill along with being excellent students. Both Mason & Braeden come from outstanding families and will be tremendous student-athletes here at Mercer!"
A 6-4 shooting guard from Wauconda, Ill., Braeden attends Wauconda High School where he boasts a 4.16 GPA. He was named all-area, all-conference, and all-state after averaging 23.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. His parents are Jennifer and Christopher Carlsen, and he has an older brother, Christopher, a younger brother, Austin, and a younger sister, Jordyn Lee.
Coach Gary says, "Braeden is a strong guard that is an excellent shooter with toughness" and that he has a high basketball IQ.
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A Huntersville, N.C. native, Mason is a 6-7 forward who averaged 10.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while also boasting a 37 percent success rate from the perimeter while playing for Davidson Day School. He was selected to the all-conference team and holds a 4.3 GPA. His parents are Hope Riley and Jarrett Smith, and he has a younger sister, Rachel.
Gary loves "Mason's size, skill and athleticism. He has a high basketball IQ and loves the game. He is being coached by an excellent coach in James Long and will be prepared for college."
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Of the incoming athletes, Head Coach Greg Gary says, "We are extremely excited to add Mason and Braeden to the Bear family for the '24 class. Both possess ultra competitiveness and skill along with being excellent students. Both Mason & Braeden come from outstanding families and will be tremendous student-athletes here at Mercer!"
Braeden Carlsen
A 6-4 shooting guard from Wauconda, Ill., Braeden attends Wauconda High School where he boasts a 4.16 GPA. He was named all-area, all-conference, and all-state after averaging 23.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. His parents are Jennifer and Christopher Carlsen, and he has an older brother, Christopher, a younger brother, Austin, and a younger sister, Jordyn Lee.
Coach Gary says, "Braeden is a strong guard that is an excellent shooter with toughness" and that he has a high basketball IQ.
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Mason Smith
A Huntersville, N.C. native, Mason is a 6-7 forward who averaged 10.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game while also boasting a 37 percent success rate from the perimeter while playing for Davidson Day School. He was selected to the all-conference team and holds a 4.3 GPA. His parents are Hope Riley and Jarrett Smith, and he has a younger sister, Rachel.
Gary loves "Mason's size, skill and athleticism. He has a high basketball IQ and loves the game. He is being coached by an excellent coach in James Long and will be prepared for college."
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