South Carolina Gamecocks women’s head coach Dawn Staley was delighted to learn about Mason Collins receiving an offer from the University of Virginia in the Class of 2028. The top high school basketball prospect is the godson of Staley and his mother, Ariana Moore, works on Staley’s South Carolina women’s basketball staff.
On Monday, Staley took to X and congratulated Collins and also wished him well for the future:
“@mase_collins11 congrats on your offer from @UVAMensHoops! I tried to tell yall…..if you have seen him play and have yet to offer. Just follow him and his journey. Keep ballin Mase! #wahoowa.”
@mase_collins11 congrats on your offer from @UVAMensHoops! I tried to tell yall…..if you have seen him play and have yet to offer. Just follow him and his journey. Keep ballin Mase! #wahoowa pic.twitter.com/SgdbivLMnL
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) December 23, 2025
Mason Collins plays for Christ School in Arden, North Carolina. According to ESPN, he is ranked No. 20 overall in the 2028 class. Collins has been invited multiple times to USA Basketball junior camps and minicamps. Recruiting analysts expect Collins to receive more such offers as he continue to develop.
Mason Collins on Dawn Staley’s Role In His Family
Dawn Staley is viewed as a supportive figure in Mason Collins’ life and is closely associated with his family. Collins’ parents are/were part of the sport. His father, Mardy Collins, played for Temple Stars and his mother, Ariana Moore, is Director of Operations at South Carolina.
During an interview, Collins revealed the role the Gamecocks coach played in his and Madden Collins’ life.
“She’s been a big part of my life because the whole time I’ve been alive, she’s been there,” Mason said in Dec. 2024. “Going to practices when I was young, and even now, watching and learning from her, is a great thing.”
Collins’ mother, Ariana Moore, was part of Staley’s first recruiting class when she was coaching at Temple in 2000. Moore played four years under coach Staley, averaging 7.8 points per game across four seasons. In her senior year, Temple went 28-4 but fell in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Moore has been associated with the Gamecocks since 2013.
Interestingly, when Madden was born in the hospital, Staley was also there and Moore said that it made perfect sense to make her their godmother.
“They don’t even have a godfather,” Moore said. “She can fill both roles. She was so thrilled when I asked her to consider it. She’s taken that job seriously.”
Moore added how Staley made her motherhood easy.
“It’s like a family environment,” Moore said. “Coach gave me the flexibility when my kids were young to be able to be there for practice and take them to AAU games on the weekends and still do my job.”
Staley also occasionally attends Christ School games whenever she gets time to see Madden and Mason Collins in action.
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