Boys Basketball looks to bounce back under new leadership

Sololiya Ebba | The Chronicle

The 2025-26 basketball season will be the start of something new for The Brotherhood.

On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, the Mason Board of Education approved CJ Fleming as its new head Varsity Boys’ Basketball Coach. This decision comes after the announcement that former Varsity Head Coach Adam Toohey would be stepping away after his third season with the Comets. 

Fleming’s path to coaching was shaped by family and fueled by experience. Raised in a basketball household, as his father was his high school coach, Fleming was immersed in the game from a young age. After playing five years of college basketball at Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky, he began his coaching career as an assistant at Oak Hills during the 2022-23 season. He quickly moved into a head coaching role at Badin, where he transformed the program and led the Rams to back-to-back regional semifinal appearances. His efforts earned him the Greater Catholic Co-Ed League Coach of the Year title in 2024.

“I was always around [basketball],” Fleming said. “Both my parents were teachers, and I saw firsthand how coaching could impact lives. Basketball gave me my best friends, and now I want to give back through coaching.”

His move to Mason was not something he initially anticipated or planned for, but when the opportunity arose, Fleming said he jumped at the chance to join a district with a high athletic reputation.

“I wasn’t planning to leave Badin,” Fleming said. “I loved it there. But when Mr. Stemple called about Mason, I knew it was something I had to consider. Mason is a top-tier Division I school, and the opportunity to compete at that level again was very appealing.”

Fleming inherits a team that struggled to find its footing last season under former head coach Adam Toohey, as they closed out the 2024-25 season with a 4-19 record.  Despite the tough year, Fleming sees potential in the current roster and is optimistic about what lies ahead. With the majority of key players returning and a talented group of underclassmen ready to step up, he believes the pieces are in place for a turnaround — a challenge he is familiar with.

At Badin, Fleming took over a program that had endured three straight losing seasons. In his first year, the Rams opened with a 3-8 skid and ended the 2022-23 season at 8-18. But through that adversity, Fleming built a culture of grit and growth, which ultimately led to a dramatic comeback the following season. In the next two seasons, Fleming led the Rams to two regional semifinal appearances. Through his experiences and challenges, Fleming said he is confident he can bring that same formula for success to Mason, helping the Comets rebuild a competitive culture.

“We’re going to be known for playing hard, for being tough, and for caring more than anyone else,” Fleming said. “We may not always be the most talented, but we’ll be the hardest working.”

Fleming also understands the importance of long-term success. He does not envision Mason to be a one-hit wonder that relies on a strong senior class. Instead, he wants to build a pipeline of success, starting by prioritizing the players who grow with the program from a young age.

“[Longevity] is everything,” Fleming said. “That means getting involved at the youth level. When our middle schoolers show up to ninth-grade open gyms, they should already know our terminology and identity. That’s how you build a sustainable program.”

That involvement has already begun. Fleming recently met with Mason’s seventh and eighth graders and took time to introduce himself, outline his vision for the program, and emphasize the importance of long-term commitment. In a school district where talented young athletes are often enticed by private schools offering scholarships and elite playing opportunities, Fleming’s message was clear: there is something special being built at Mason, and he wants them to be a part of it. He strongly encouraged them to stay committed to the Comets despite outside interest from private schools, planting the seeds for a culture rooted in loyalty.

“[I told them,] you already wear Mason green,” Fleming said. “Be proud of that. You’ve grown up with your teammates, so stick with them. My job is to make staying at Mason a no-brainer.”

Mason fans can expect to see a gritty, defensive-minded team on the floor next season. Fleming said that while the offense may struggle or even have an off night, Fleming believes toughness and defense are non-negotiables for success.

“We’re going to hang our hat on defense,” Fleming said. “The best teams bring it on that end of the court every night. We’ll run the Princeton offense on the other end — unselfish, smart basketball — but defense is where it starts.”

Fleming is also bringing a strong off-court presence. Whether it is attending other sporting events, engaging with students in the hallways, or hosting energetic youth camps, he wants to be a visible and supportive figure in the Mason community.

“I want to be more than just a basketball coach,” Fleming said. “I want to be a teacher, a mentor, someone who genuinely cares about students as people. That’s what makes high school sports so special.”

For now, Fleming’s head is in the game. He’s focused on building “brick by brick,” a phrase he uses to represent daily improvement. While the program’s goals are high, the foundation will be laid one step at a time.

“We’re not looking [too far] ahead,” he said. “We’re focusing on today’s open gym, then tomorrow’s, then the next one. That’s how you build something that lasts.”