George Mason Basketball Star Tyler Kolek Enters Transfer Portal

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UPDATE (4/14): Tyler Kolek has signed on to play with the Marquette Golden Eagles. 

Reigning A-10 Rookie of the Year Tyler Kolek is entering the transfer portal, according to a statement he made on Twitter. Kolek cited “the uncertainty that lies ahead at George Mason” as the key main reason. The George Mason basketball program is currently without a head coach after parting ways with Dave Paulsen earlier in the week. Paulsen had ties with Kolek’s AAU coach and brought him to GMU from Rhode Island.

Senior Javon Greene was the first to enter the portal after the Paulsen news broke. Together, they were two of Mason’s top three scorers and distributors this season.

There could be more. Mason has opened up a national search for a new head coach and the program will definitely look much different next season. A rebuild/rebrand is in order after a decade-long absence from the NCAA Tournament. Paulsen was credited with stabilizing the program during his six-year run in Fairfax but he ultimately fell short of expectations, finishing with a 95-91 overall record.

The Patriots finished the 2020-21 season with a 13-9 record. In what turned out to be Paulsen’s final game as head coach, Davidson blew out GMU by 32 points in the A-10 Tournament.

While the circumstances are much different, Mason also had multiple players leave town at the conclusion of last season.