Courtesy of SWC Athletics
DIVISION I DNA—Ari Mason signs her scholarship letter of intent flanked by assistant coach Antony Veglia, assistant coach Citlalli Gurrola and head coach Tyrone Shelley.
By Sisy Mohorko
Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!
Women’s basketball star Ari Mason is a one-and-done at Southwestern College. The talented and personable Poway High School product is heading to Division I University of New Orleans to play for the Privateers.
Mason averaged 18 points per game and elevated a program that had been struggling to a force to be reckoned with.
Coach Tyrone Shelley said he liked what he saw in Mason from Day One.
“Her scoring ability and top tier dedication make her special,” he said. “I never doubted her ability to transfer to a Division I university. University of New Orleans is fortunate to have Ari.”
Mason has D-I DNA. Her father was a Division I football player and her mother played D-I softball. She started out as a youth softball player like her mom but switched to basketball when she was just 7 years old.
“Basketball just came easy for me,” she said. “I didn’t want to do the same thing my parents did. I wanted to be on my own journey.”
