WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University men's basketball program has signed Tyler Mason, a 6'2" guard from Metamora, Ill., to a 2024 National Letter of Intent (NLI), as announced by head coach Todd Eisner recently. 

"Today is a really exciting day for Warrior Basketball!  Tyler Mason is an outstanding basketball player and person who I believe will have a very positive impact on our program.  He had an outstanding junior season, leading Metamora HS to the Illinois 3A State Championship in 2023 and then being named the Peoria Journal Star Area Player of the Year after the season.  Watching Tyler play this summer, you can tell he has been coached at a high level at Metamora HS and with his MidPro club team, which is very important to our staff.  And Tyler's teams win, he impacts winning on both ends of the floor, and that to me is as valuable as any physical skill Tyler will bring to our program, which are many," said Eisner. 

The Metamora (Ill.) High School standout averaged 15 points per game in 2022-23. Mason also hauled in 5.1 rebounds per game and averaged two steals per contest. MHS was the 2021-22 Illinois State runner up in the ISHSAA postseason. In 2022-23, Mason led Metamora to a 34-2 overall record, a run that included 32 consecutive victories. Metamora High School won the 3A Illinois State Championship.   

Individually, Mason was tabbed as the Peoria Area Journal Star Player of the Year.  Mason also earned First-Team All-Mid Illini Conference honors. 

Eisner went on to state: "We greatly enjoyed getting to know Tyler's family during the recruiting process during their visits to Winona State.  We know we have added a first-class person and outstanding basketball player to our program today!  Warrior Basketball got better today and that is exciting!  I know Warrior fans are going to have fun watching this young man play in McCown Gymnasium!"

Winona State men's basketball is set to start the 2023-24 Warrior campaign on Friday, Nov. 10, taking on the University of Arkansas Monticello at the Central Region Challenge in Kansas City, Kan.  WSU and UA-M will tip off at 7 p.m. in the Municipal Auditorium.