Basketball Hall of Fame

A player who came to the Hilltop from Centralia as one of the most highly recruited prep names of his time, Bobby Joe Mason had an outstanding basketball career at Bradley under former Coach Chuck Orsborn, who recruited him in 1956. Mason played on two Bradley NIT title teams in 1957 and 1960, as well as on the 1958 second-place team.

Although ineligible for part of his first season, Mason scored 207 points in just 12 games. With point totals of 353, 441 and 228, he ended his Bradley career with 1,229 points in 86 games.

Mason received several distinguished honors during his career, being named a Helms Foundation All-American in 1957, selected to the All-NIT team in 1957, and named to the Missouri Valley All-Conference team both in 1958 and 1959.

Mason went on to play for the Harlem Globetrotters before going into business in Ohio.