Frank Mason III explains decision to wear ‘Jayhawk colors’ again during 2026 TBT
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Frank Mason played for Syracuse’s Boeheim’s Army in the 2025 TBT.
- Mason announced he will return to the JHX Jayhawks alumni squad this season.
- KU's JHX will open TBT play in a best-of-three series at Kansas State starting July 21.
One of the greatest players in Kansas basketball history elected to play for Syracuse’s alumni team instead of the Jayhawks’ squad in last summer’s TBT.
Frank Mason III, in what he calls “more of a business decision,” ran the point for Boeheim’s Army — which wound up winning just one game before bowing out of the 61-team event. Meanwhile, KU’s JHX Hoops squad, minus the 2017 consensus college hoops player of the year, won two games and reached the final 16 for the third straight summer.
Mason recently let it be known he’d be trading orange for crimson and blue this year. He’s returning to the JHX squad to play in the same backcourt as former KU guards Marcus Garrett, Lagerald Vick, Zeke Mayo and others.
“I’m really excited to get back out there under the Jayhawk colors,” Mason said Thursday. “This will be my third year (with KU’s team). So I’m just looking forward to competing and winning as much as possible.
“It’ll be exciting just to get back around some of the guys, the other alumni players, and I’m just looking forward to it.
The 32-year-old Mason currently resides in Atlanta after returning from France, where he played during the 2024-25 season.
He was asked why he’s decided to return to the KU team in a revamped tourney that now features just 16 teams.
“I talked it over with the family and they kind of encouraged me to play with that team last year,” he said, “but that’s not what I truly wanted to do.”
Mason reportedly received financial incentives to play for Syracuse last summer.
“Jayhawks are always where my heart is,” he said Thursday, “and I just felt right to bring it back this year and play with the guys.”
A new format has KU and K-State opening a best-of-three series on July 21 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan.
Mason is hoping to convince former KU guard Malik Newman and former KU center Udoka Azubuike to join a roster that includes former Jayhawks forward Thomas Robinson and Washburn’s Jacob Hanna.
“I can’t wait,” Mason said. “I’ve been working out every day preparing and I’m looking forward to competing against them (the Wildcats), bringing back the memories from back in college.
“It’s not the same team, the same guys, but it’s just a feeling . And just the thought of playing against K-State is something I’m looking forward to.”
Mason — he has played in the NBA as well as Italy and China — averaged 11.9 points and 4.4 assists per game this past season for Limoges CSP Elite in France. He dished 111 assists to 48 turnovers.
“I’m extremely confident,” Mason said. “We’ve got a lot of good guys, a lot of good alumni joining. I think we’re missing maybe a big or two, but the roster is shaping up pretty well. We’ve got a lot of good shooters, a lot of athletic guards, and some really good bigs. So we’ve got a pretty good team.”
Mason said he has not changed since his college days.
“(Fans) can expect to see the Frank Mason that they’re used to seeing at KU. I’m in great shape. I feel good and I’m just ready to get out there and put on a show,” he said. “They can expect to see the Frank Mason that they’re used to seeing, or that they have seen in the past.”
He said he would like to get into coaching, perhaps in the near future.
“I have a lot of years left in the tank, honestly, but it’s been a long journey and I’m just thinking a lot about family now,” he said. “It’s all about my (two) kids now. I would love coaching. Honestly, I’ve been thinking about that, too.
“I think I’ll be really good on that end, and I’m just not sure what the process is like. But I think I’m going to get into the culture and just go from there.”
KU will meet K-State at 8 p.m. July 21 in Manhattan; the series then moves to Lee Arena in Topeka for a 7 p.m. contest on July 22. If needed, the teams would meet a third time at 8 p.m. on July 24.
