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  6. article_body => "<p>George Mason got a mix of good news and bad news on Wednesday. Their senior Justin Kier was granted a fifth year of eligibility after missing the majority of the season due to injury. However,&nbsp;on the same day, Kier announced that he is entering the transfer portal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Just a kid from Grottoes, VA. Thank You Mason Nation \ud83d\udda4 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/JR3QpmbosR\">pic.twitter.com\/JR3QpmbosR<\/a><\/p>&mdash; 1 (@Jkiiiiii__) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Jkiiiiii__\/status\/1248010707896942592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 8, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote>\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n<p>\"I'm blessed to have been given this season back so I can play another year of college basketball. After a lot of prayer and discussion with my family, I've decided to enter the transfer portal,\" Kier said in his post.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Kier also said that he has not ruled out the option of returning to the Patriots next year.<\/p>\n<p>The 6-foot-4 guard will immediately eligible to play for whichever team he plays on for the 2020-21 season. Had it not been for an injury-filled senior year, he would have been a four-year starter for George Mason.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Two injuries to his right foot limited Kier to only playing nine games. A big loss for Mason that struggled to find consistency without him on the floor. Just the year prior he was named the Atlantic 10's Most Improved Player and made the&nbsp;Second Team.<\/p>\n<p>Kier's fifth season was never for certain. A waiver to earn a medical redshirt for the year was a long shot&nbsp;given that he had returned from the initial injury and played nearly a third of the season.<\/p>\n<p>With his ball-handling, attacking nature, and all-around defensive skill set, there will be teams interested in Kier. Through his collegiate career, Kier has played both as a point guard and as a two-guard. Since he has left the option open to return for Mason, he would likely want to go somewhere that would allow him to start and contend for a postseason tournament.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>MORE NCAA NEWS:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Ultimate Bracket:<\/strong>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/ncaa\/ultimate-mens-ncaa-tournament-bracket-who-best-team-all-time-first-round\">Who's the best CBB team?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>2011 George Mason:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/ncaa\/march-madness-revisited-george-mason-lives-out-their-final-four-shadow-2011\">Breaking out of the shadow<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Terps Need&nbsp;a PG: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/ncaa\/elite-point-guard-grad-transfer-bryce-aiken-considering-maryland-heres-why-terps-need-him\">This grad transfer could be it<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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NCAA

NCAA

George Mason got a mix of good news and bad news on Wednesday. Their senior Justin Kier was granted a fifth year of eligibility after missing the majority of the season due to injury. However, on the same day, Kier announced that he is entering the transfer portal. 

"I'm blessed to have been given this season back so I can play another year of college basketball. After a lot of prayer and discussion with my family, I've decided to enter the transfer portal," Kier said in his post. 

Kier also said that he has not ruled out the option of returning to the Patriots next year.

The 6-foot-4 guard will immediately eligible to play for whichever team he plays on for the 2020-21 season. Had it not been for an injury-filled senior year, he would have been a four-year starter for George Mason. 

Two injuries to his right foot limited Kier to only playing nine games. A big loss for Mason that struggled to find consistency without him on the floor. Just the year prior he was named the Atlantic 10's Most Improved Player and made the Second Team.

Kier's fifth season was never for certain. A waiver to earn a medical redshirt for the year was a long shot given that he had returned from the initial injury and played nearly a third of the season.

 

With his ball-handling, attacking nature, and all-around defensive skill set, there will be teams interested in Kier. Through his collegiate career, Kier has played both as a point guard and as a two-guard. Since he has left the option open to return for Mason, he would likely want to go somewhere that would allow him to start and contend for a postseason tournament. 

MORE NCAA NEWS: