Nate used more possessions for CP3 than anyone not named Theo Pinson. His 23.6% usage rate for a very good team projects well for the future, although more so as a scorer than a distributor (~27% %Shots – highest on CP3).
As things currently stand, Nate would walk into a great situation next fall. With two senior point guards in Dre Hollins and Dre Mathieu, Nate could be taught the ropes and brought in with ease as a freshman. However, if he’s ready to make an impact immediately and earns playing time, Dre Hollins and he can certainly be on the court together.
Assist rates for some other point guards Minnesota has been involved with: Lourawls Nairn 45.5%, Tyler Ulis 42.4%, Tyus Jones 41.9%, Alex Robinson 38.0%.
The question is what can Mason do in college and the answer is better than 20.4%. That said, we’re not overly concerned with his assist rate this summer. We’re far more impressed by his low turnover rate of just 11.6%. (Turnover rates of those four guards mentioned in the bullet above: 19.1%, 16.2%, 15.0%, 24.5%.)
