Selfless athletes have always been worth applauding, but college sports’ new transfer portal era highlights those who put the team above themselves.
In a program thats mantra is “it’s not about me”, Tennessee’s Jahmai Mashack is worth celebrating.
Mashack has embraced what Tennessee’s asked of him from day-one on campus. After starting the final month of his sophomore season on a team that advanced to the Sweet 16, Mashack’s selflessly embraced coming off the bench again this season.
A defensive first player who’s offensive role wanes and waxes throughout the course of the season, Mashack’s never looked to transfer.
“Because I know myself and I know I’m a star in my role,” Mashack said of why he hasn’t following Tennessee’s blowout win over Ole Miss. “I know I’m a star in whatever I’m doing and that’s just me. … Whatever I do to help the team win, if that’s stand in the corner and play defense, that’s what I’m going to do. But if that’s going to the basket and scoring or shooting threes, I’m going to be adaptive for whatever we need. And that’s just my motto, just being a star in my role and that’s what I’m going to do going forward. That’s just how I am and how I operate.”
Mashack summed up what the role is pretty well. Defense is the non negotiable. He’s the best wing defender in the SEC. There’s a fair argument that the previous sentence is still accurate if you remove “wing”.
More From RTI: Zakai Zeigler, Jonas Aidoo Shines Against Ole Miss
And while he’s not relied on as a consistent offensive threat, his development has made him an option on that end. He’s totaled nine-plus points five times this season with three coming against big six opponents.
He’s most effective offensively attacking the glass and the basket but he’s worked tirelessly to improve his shot during his college career and it’s starting to pay dividends. Mashack’s back-to-back triples to end the first half helped Tennessee push its halftime lead from four to nine points. The junior wing is now shooting 44% from three-point range this season though it’s on a modest 16 attempts.
“He totally has remade his shot, spent time doing it,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “When he’s open and has rhythm, we want him to shoot the ball.”
“If it comes to me, I’m shooting it,” Mashack said. “I’ve worked a lot on my game, especially my shooting. So it’s about time that I have confidence in it. Just work and putting it into fruition on the floor and I think that’s what happened.”
While role players across the country are eager to find greener pastures elsewhere, there may not be a more symbiotic relationship in college basketball than Mashack and Tennessee.
Tennessee gets a selfless person and tireless player that embraces his role and can change a game with his defense. Mashack gets a program and coaching staff that knows and appreciates his game while also priding itself on continuing to develop his offensive game.
