Variety of schools recruiting Mason

Nashville (Tenn.) Christ Presbyterian Academy plays in the first round of the Class AA state tournament on Wednesday night thanks in a large part to the play of 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward Zaccheus Mason.

On the season, Mason, a 2009 three-star prospect, is averaging 24 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5.8 blocks per game for his 31-3 squad. Although Mason is a power player, not all of his production is coming at the basket.

"We've worked hard on scaling his game out more to where it will need to be on the college level," said CPA head coach Drew Maddox, a former standout at Vanderbilt. "We like to isolate him on the wing and let him face up some and not just post him up down low all the time. He hit 35 percent of his threes and is driving to the basket more. You can see the pieces coming together with the things he'll need to do in college."

A host of low to mid-major schools have offered Mason, and a number of mid to high major schools are following him closely. Appalachian State, Austin Peay, Chattanooga, Lipscomb, MTSU, Murray State, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech have all offered. Interest is coming in from Cincinnati, Clemson, Kentucky, Mississippi State, New Mexico, Western Kentucky and Xavier.

Of the schools who haven't offered Mason, Clemson and Xavier are pursuing him the hardest. As for a formal school list, Mason might not have one until after the summer travel season.

"We're just waiting to go through the summer," said Maddox. "he'll have a better understanding of where he stands with schools after he goes through the most important cycle of play in his recruitment."

In April, Mason will play at the Kingwood Classic and the Spring Showcase in Las Vegas.