Mason Plumlee
Encyclopedia
Mason Alexander Plumlee (born March 5, 1990, in Fort Wayne, Indiana
) is a 6 in 10 in (208.28 cm) forward for the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
team. As a freshman in 2009–10, he was a back-up forward for Duke's national champion
2010 team
.
He was a 2009 McDonald's All-American in high school. He plays alongside his 6 in 10 in (208.28 cm) older brother Miles for Duke. Their 7 in 0 in (213.36 cm) younger brother, Marshall, played basketball for their high school alma mater and now plays for the Duke Blue Devils.
(a 6 in 10 in (208.28 cm) forward/center who plays alongside him at Duke) and Marshall (a 7 in 0 in (213.36 cm) center
at Christ School
in Arden, North Carolina
, and one of the top-rated high school juniors in the U.S. who will also be going to Duke) and sister Madeleine. He and his older brother Miles are the sixth pair of brothers to play at Duke at the same time.
His parents are Perky (a former Tennessee Tech
basketball player) and Leslie (née Schultz) Plumlee (a former Purdue
women's basketball
player who set the school single-game rebound record with 25). The two met at a basketball camp during the summer of 1979. His grandfather Albert "Bud" Schultz played basketball at Michigan Tech (1944), his uncle William Schultz played basketball at Wisconsin-Eau Claire
(1971–72), and his uncle Chad Schultz played basketball at Wisconsin-Oshkosh
(1983–86).
"Through the years, I've watched a lot of basketball," said their then-83-year-old grandfather before they played in the 2010 NCAA Championships.
. He was named a 2009 McDonald’s All-American as a senior after he averaged 15.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game for the year, a Jordan Brand All-American, and a third team Parade All-American and Slam All-American. He was also named 2009 North Carolina Mr. Basketball by the Charlotte Observer, and was twice an All-State pick. In addition, he competed in the high jump
in track and field
, with an individual best jump of 6’ 8”.
, but chose to follow him to Duke after Stanford coach Trent Johnson
left for LSU
. Mason was elated, as they had been in boarding school together, and never really spent much time apart.
He missed the first six games of the 2009–10 season with a broken left wrist. He and Miles usually rotate into games together, replacing Brian Zoubek
and Lance Thomas
, and are often the first two players off the bench. Teammate Nolan Smith
said: "He's an athlete. He can run and jump with the best of them in the country."
Through April 4, 2010, Mason was tied for first on the team in blocks, with 30, and second on the team with 21 dunks. In an average 14.1 minutes of play per game during the 2009–10 season, he averaged 3.1 rebounds and .9 blocks.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski said: "Mason has got a chance to be really, really good. He has skills of a guard and the body of a big man, and a great basketball mind. He’s very competitive, he likes the stage, and he’s comfortable with the ball."
It is anticipated that in 2010–11 the two brothers will both be in Duke's starting lineup. Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt
views Mason as Duke's best pro prospect. Told in early April 2010 that some scouting services view him as the team's best pro prospect, Plumlee said: "I have seen that. I don't even really know what to say to those people. I mean, let's be real. I'm trying to play the best I can, but in reality nobody goes from the bench to the NBA. Come on."
Mason has started 11 of the teams 13 games in the 2010–2011 season, 3 of which he recorded double doubles in points and rebounds. For the season, he is averaging 7.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game to help man the paint for the defending champion Blue Devils.
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
) is a 6 in 10 in (208.28 cm) forward for the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
team. As a freshman in 2009–10, he was a back-up forward for Duke's national champion
2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The first and second round games were played at the following sites:*March 18 / 20*March 25 / 27*March 26 / 28Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four, held on April 3 and 5 in Indianapolis, Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium, hosted by the Horizon League and Butler University, as per the NCAA's...
2010 team
2009–10 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team
The 2009–10 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team represented Duke University in the 2009–10 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski, the Blue Devils won the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, claiming the school's fourth national title.Duke led...
.
He was a 2009 McDonald's All-American in high school. He plays alongside his 6 in 10 in (208.28 cm) older brother Miles for Duke. Their 7 in 0 in (213.36 cm) younger brother, Marshall, played basketball for their high school alma mater and now plays for the Duke Blue Devils.
Family
Mason Plumlee grew up with brothers MilesMiles Plumlee
Miles Plumlee is a forward/center for the Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team. As a sophomore, he was a reserve forward/center for Duke's national champion 2010 team.-Family:...
(a 6 in 10 in (208.28 cm) forward/center who plays alongside him at Duke) and Marshall (a 7 in 0 in (213.36 cm) center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
at Christ School
Christ School (North Carolina)
Christ School is an independent Episcopal college preparatory boarding and day school for boys in Arden, North Carolina. It features a competitive academic curriculum, intramural and varsity athletics, spiritual development and a work program...
in Arden, North Carolina
Arden, North Carolina
Arden is an unincorporated area located in southern Buncombe County, North Carolina, in the United States. Arden is approximately considered the area between Skyland and Fletcher near the Henderson County line. Arden's ZIP Code is 28704...
, and one of the top-rated high school juniors in the U.S. who will also be going to Duke) and sister Madeleine. He and his older brother Miles are the sixth pair of brothers to play at Duke at the same time.
His parents are Perky (a former Tennessee Tech
Tennessee Technological University
Tennessee Technological University, popularly known as Tennessee Tech, is an accredited public university located in Cookeville, Tennessee, US, a city approximately seventy miles east of Nashville. It was formerly known as Tennessee Polytechnic Institute , and before that as Dixie College, the...
basketball player) and Leslie (née Schultz) Plumlee (a former Purdue
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
women's basketball
Purdue Boilermakers Women's Basketball
The Purdue Boilermakers women's basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in NCAA Division I and the Big Ten Conference. Purdue is rich in tradition and history, holding the record for Big Ten Championships, along with being the only program in the conference to boast winning...
player who set the school single-game rebound record with 25). The two met at a basketball camp during the summer of 1979. His grandfather Albert "Bud" Schultz played basketball at Michigan Tech (1944), his uncle William Schultz played basketball at Wisconsin-Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
The University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire is a public liberal arts university located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the University of Wisconsin System and has an annual enrollment of more than 10,000 students...
(1971–72), and his uncle Chad Schultz played basketball at Wisconsin-Oshkosh
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a public university in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. It is part of the University of Wisconsin System and offers both bachelor and master degrees...
(1983–86).
"Through the years, I've watched a lot of basketball," said their then-83-year-old grandfather before they played in the 2010 NCAA Championships.
High school
In high school at Christ School, he helped lead the team to three state championships and a record of 99–8 over his last three years, and he earned a silver medal with the 2008 USA U18 National Team at the FIBA Americas Under-18 ChampionshipFIBA Americas Under-18 Championship
The FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship is the name commonly used to refer to the American basketball championships for players under 18 years that take place every two years among national teams of the continent. Before the 2006 edition the championship was played by under-19 teams.-Men's Americas...
. He was named a 2009 McDonald’s All-American as a senior after he averaged 15.3 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.5 blocks per game for the year, a Jordan Brand All-American, and a third team Parade All-American and Slam All-American. He was also named 2009 North Carolina Mr. Basketball by the Charlotte Observer, and was twice an All-State pick. In addition, he competed in the high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
in track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, with an individual best jump of 6’ 8”.
College
His brother Miles had originally committed to play at Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, but chose to follow him to Duke after Stanford coach Trent Johnson
Trent Johnson
Trent Johnson is an American college basketball coach and the current head coach of the LSU Tigers men's basketball team. Johnson had previously been the head coach at Stanford University and Nevada, where he achieved some success in the 2004 NCAA tournament with star player Kirk Snyder and...
left for LSU
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
. Mason was elated, as they had been in boarding school together, and never really spent much time apart.
He missed the first six games of the 2009–10 season with a broken left wrist. He and Miles usually rotate into games together, replacing Brian Zoubek
Brian Zoubek
Brian Henry Zoubek is a 7'1" basketball center. He was a member of the Duke Blue Devils' 2010 NCAA Championship team.-Family:...
and Lance Thomas
Lance Thomas
Lance Thomas is a 6'8" former forward on the Duke University's men's basketball team. He is from Scotch Plains, New Jersey. He started at power forward for Duke's national champion 2010 team. Currently for the NBA D-League 2010-11 season, Thomas is playing for the Austin Toros.- High school...
, and are often the first two players off the bench. Teammate Nolan Smith
Nolan Smith
Nolan Derek Smith is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, having been selected with the 21st pick in the 2011 NBA Draft after four years at Duke University. As a senior, he was named a first team AP All-American and the ACC Player of the Year...
said: "He's an athlete. He can run and jump with the best of them in the country."
Through April 4, 2010, Mason was tied for first on the team in blocks, with 30, and second on the team with 21 dunks. In an average 14.1 minutes of play per game during the 2009–10 season, he averaged 3.1 rebounds and .9 blocks.
Coach Mike Krzyzewski said: "Mason has got a chance to be really, really good. He has skills of a guard and the body of a big man, and a great basketball mind. He’s very competitive, he likes the stage, and he’s comfortable with the ball."
It is anticipated that in 2010–11 the two brothers will both be in Duke's starting lineup. Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt
Paul Hewitt
-External links:**...
views Mason as Duke's best pro prospect. Told in early April 2010 that some scouting services view him as the team's best pro prospect, Plumlee said: "I have seen that. I don't even really know what to say to those people. I mean, let's be real. I'm trying to play the best I can, but in reality nobody goes from the bench to the NBA. Come on."
Mason has started 11 of the teams 13 games in the 2010–2011 season, 3 of which he recorded double doubles in points and rebounds. For the season, he is averaging 7.5 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game to help man the paint for the defending champion Blue Devils.