Hancock Bids Bittersweet Goodbye to Patriots

The clock ticked down as Luke Hancock, a sophomore on the George Mason University basketball team, brought the ball up the court. Mason trailed by one with 20 seconds left against Villanova in the NCAA tournament. He put the ball up for three.

Swoosh, and the sweet snap of the net. 

Clutch. 

"It was just a great feeling the way our team worked together to win it," Hancock said. "I was happy to still be dancing after that one." 

Hancock will get a few more shots at perennial top-25 basketball power Villanova, but not as a Patriot. He is transferring to the University of Louisville in the fall. 

“The chance to play at the highest level; 22,500 sold out every night,” Hancock said. “Getting to play in Madison Square Garden a couple times a year sounds pretty good to me.” 

Hancock averaged 10.9 points and 4.3 assists last season.   

“Luke was one of the most versatile athletes on the team,” said Evan Massengill, a senior and a brother to Hancock in the Theta Chi Fraternity at GMU. “We’re going to miss him a lot.” 

Hancock was a big asset to the team, so making the decision to transfer came as a shock to many. 

“Luke didn’t give much indication that he was transferring.” said Alyssa See, a friend and a junior on the GMU softball team. “It was brought up once or twice, and he could keep a pretty straight face when he would say, ‘I don’t know nothin’ about nothin’.’” 

Jim Larranaga, the former men’s basketball coach at GMU, just before Hancock’s decision to transfer. 

“It had a lot to do with Coach L leaving,” Hancock said. “I came to Mason expecting to play for Coach L for four years. When my situation changed, I had to open up my options and look around for something I felt was more comfortable.” 

When a player transfers, NCAA rules state that the player has to sit out one year before resuming play.

“It’s going to be really tough sitting out a year, but at the same time it gives me a whole year to practice and get my body and skills better to be able to compete at the highest level every night,” Hancock said.   

He is keeping an optimistic mindset. 

“My defense is always a work in progress,” Hancock said. “And I want to be able to shoot the ball more consistently.” 

He is excited about his upcoming move to Louisville and the Big East Conference, where he will play against some of the best teams in the country.   

“I like coach [Rick] Pitino a lot,” Hancock said, referring to his new head coach at Louisville. “I am excited to play a lot of the teams in the Big East.” 

Hancock’s friends support his decision.

“We all want the best for Luke and we want to see him excel,” Massengill said. “I plan to make trips to Louisville to support him whenever I can.” 

He will be playing Big East foe Georgetown, a more convenient travel venue for Hancock’s fan base here at GMU.  

“I am going to miss the people I know and love at Mason,” Hancock said. “I have a strong bond with so many people that go to school and work there that it’s definitely a bitter sweet feeling leaving.”