Frank Mason wouldn't be at Kansas if not for HS teacher failing him
After a successful four-year career with the Jayhawks, Kansas senior Frank Mason III will have his jersey and name hanging in the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse one day, but it almost never happened.
Originally committed to Towson coming out of Petersburg High in Virginia, Mason failed 12th-grade U.S. and Virginia Government, a state required course to graduate.
“That would be me,” Terri Smith, Mason's former teacher, said to Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star on being the one who failed the future Jayhawk.
“There were days I had to sit at my desk and cry,” Smith said. “Because everybody wanted to tell me I was wrong.”
Due to not being able to graduate, Mason attended Massanutten Military Academy to improve his grades and develop more as a basketball player.
During his one year at prep school, Mason caught the eye of Kansas head coach Bill Self, who noticed the point guard after scouting other recruits playing against Mason.
The Jayhawks' 2013 recruiting class was highlighted by five-stars Andrew Wiggins, Joel Embiid, and Wayne Selden. It also included four-stars Conner Frankamp and Brannen Greene.
Mason was the lone three-star recruit and an afterthought when compared to the five other freshman.
Smith also became an afterthought, as athletes began to avoid her class due to her reputation of failing a star athlete.
However, a few years later, and Mason is set to not only graduate, but also play a key roll in Kansas' quest for a fourth national championship when it faces Purdue in a Sweet 16 showdown on Thursday night.
Mason will graduate with a degree in liberal arts and sciences in April and following that, is planning on heading off to the NBA.
“I think about it all the time,” Mason said looking back to his high school days. “I just talk to my friends about it sometimes, too. When I was back in high school, I was really sad, and just kind of mad that (Smith) made the decision to not pass me. Now that I’m older, and more responsible and things like that, I look at it as a blessing.
“She helped me get to where I am today, and helped me be responsible, as a man.”