Mason Faulkner

Mason Faulkner looks up the court against Boston College in the KFC Yum! Center on Jan. 19, 2022.

Photo by: Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics

Mason Faulkner goes up for a layup at Florida State.

Photo by: Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics

Mason Faulkner drives against Wake Forest in KFC Yum! Center on Dec. 29, 2021.

Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics

Mason Faulkner smiles after a play against Wake Forest in KFC Yum! Center on Dec. 29, 2021.

Photo by: Taris Smith | Louisville Athletics

Mason Faulkner surveys the Wake Forest defense in the KFC Yum! Center on Jan. 29, 2021.

The Cardinals celebrate after winning the Bahamas Championship.

Photo by: Tanner Probus

Mason Faulkner handles the ball against Southern in the KFC Yum! Center on Nov. 9, 2021

Photo by: Adam Creech | Louisville Athletics

Position:
Guard
Height:
6-1
Class:
Graduate Student
Hometown:
Glasgow, Ky.
High School:
Caverna High School
Prev School:
Western Carolina University

Graduate Year at Louisville in 2021-22:

Second on the team in assists (80 assists, 2.6 per game; Jarrod West had 93) and his assist-turnover ratio for ACC only games was 2.80 (56 assists, 20 turnovers in ACC games).
Scored eight or more points in seven of his last 21 games, including nine points and three assists at Syracuse. He started nine games, including the last three.
Matched his season high of seven assists against Virginia on March 5, adding five points and two steals.
Handed out his 500th career assist at Syracuse.
Matched his season high of seven assists against Boston College in his first starting assignment, adding eight points and three rebounds.
Missed UofL’s game at Georgia Tech due to COVID protocols.
Totaled 11 points and five assists without a turnover against Wake Forest on Dec. 29. He had 63 career collegiate games in double figures.
Against Wake Forest, he scored his 1,400th career point at Northern Kentucky, Western Carolina and Louisville. He finished his collegiate career with 1,487 points and 515 assists.
Handed out his 450th career assist vs. Mississippi State, adding seven points and three rebounds in the game.

Collegiate Career at Western Carolina:

Graduate transfer guard led Western Carolina with 16.9 points and 4.8 assists per game as a redshirt senior in 2020-21 when he led the SoCon in assists and ranked ninth in scoring.
Two-time All-Southern Conference and NABC All-District selection
As a junior in 2019-20, Faulkner averaged 17.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and ranked 19th in NCAA Division I in assists at 6.0 per game.
The 2021-22 season is Faulkner’s sixth year in collegiate basketball after applying the NCAA’s one-year COVID-19 waiver from last year.
Played two seasons at Northern Kentucky (2016-18), redshirted the 2018-19 season after transferring to Western Carolina, and played there two years from 2019-21.
Has scored 1,343 career points in his four collegiate seasons and handed out 434 assists, scoring in double digits 59 times while reaching 20 or more points in 23 games.
In two seasons and 53 games at WCU, Faulkner scored in double figures on 46 occasions, including 21 games with 20 or more points, and handed out four or more assists in 45 games, including 28 with six or more assists. He shot 42.3 percent from the field, 77.4 percent from the free throw line and made 32.6 percent of his three-point attempts at WCU (95-of-291).
Scored a career-best 31 points against Chattanooga on Dec. 3, 2019 as a junior.
Produced two triple-doubles as a junior at Western Carolina: against North Carolina A&T with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists on Nov. 12, 2019; and 16 points, a career-high 12 assists and 10 rebounds against Samford on Feb. 26, 2020.
Buried three game-winning shots as a senior at WCU: a buzzer-beating three-pointer in overtime against Tennessee Tech, a floater with 5.5 seconds left against The Citadel, and a three-pointer with 53 seconds to play at SoCon champion UNC Greensboro.
Earned a bachelor’s degree in May from Western Carolina in communications with a minor in sports management. He plans to pursue a graduate degree in criminal justice at UofL.
Initially signed with Colorado in April for his final collegiate season and had been on the Buffalo’s campus before opting to transfer to Louisville.
Had surgery on his right ankle in June to repair a lingering issue and was back on the court in late August.
His twin sister Madison was a first team NAIA and WCBA All-American in basketball as a senior at Campbellsville (Ky.) University and the NCCAA Player of the Year, scoring 1,494 career points.
His cousin Tick Rogers played for the Cardinals (1992-96) and is fifth in career steals at UofL with 220.

Two Years at Northern Kentucky:

Began his collegiate career at Northern Kentucky, where he played in 65 games over two seasons, averaging a combined 6.5 points and 2.1 rebounds per game, including a 7.4 point per game average as a freshman.
In his two seasons at NKU, he scored in double digits on 14 occasions and had four or more assists in 15 games.
His top scoring effort for the Norse was 29 points -- including 23 in the second half -- against Detroit Mercy on Jan. 22, 2017 as a freshman.

High School:

Kentucky Mr. Basketball finalist from Caverna High School in Horse Cave, Ky., Faulkner led the Commonwealth in scoring as a senior in 2015-16, averaging 35.9 points per game while also averaging 10 rebounds, four assists, and 2.1 steals per game.
Finished his prep career with a school-record 3,148 career points scored and over 600 career rebounds.
All-state selection his final two high school seasons and was named the co-Fifth Region Player of the Year.

Personal:

Born June 11, 1998 ... Son of Meredith and Cornelius Faulkner ... Has two sisters: twin sister Madison and younger sister McKeeya ... Working on a master’s degree in criminal justice.
Personal goal at UofL is to win a national championship.
Best moment of his athletic career to date was hitting the game-winning three-pointer vs. Tennessee Tech last season, as it was the last game his cousin Mark Nice got to see him play before his death.
Chose to attend UofL because his family can see him play.
Enjoys spending time with his family and daughter in his spare time.
His father has had the greatest influence on his athletic career.
Has worn No. 11 at Caverna High School, Northern Kentucky, Western Carolina and now Louisville because he and his twin sister have worn it as their birthdate (June 11).
Most proud of graduating college.
Best basketball advice given to him is “don’t listen to the critics. Don’t quit.”
If you walked into his dorm room, the first thing you would notice is his shoes.
Best thing about being a Cardinal is being close to home and family
Feels Jeremy Suarez -- who played Jordan on the Bernie Mac Show -- would be the best actor to play him in a movie.
Few people know that he has a twin sister Madison and his younger sister McKeeya attends UofL.
The best athlete he ever faced is D’Aaron Fox.
Would most like to meet Michael Jordan.
What impresses him the most about Coach Mack is “he is a genunine guy. The persona seen on Louisville Basketball on the outside is totally different once on the inside.”

Favorites:
Basketball Player: Michael Jordan
NBA Team: has favorite players, but likes the Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors
Athlete, Other Than A Basketball Player: Tom Brady
Movies: Django, Twilght
TV Shows: Martin
Actor: Denzel Washington
TV Sports Personality: Stephen A. Smith
Book: Dr. Seuss
Website: YouTube.com
Instagram Follow: @iamdesibanks (Desi Banks)
Foods: pork chops
Midnight Snack: candy
Vacation spot: home