On one of those hot, sweltering days that define the AAU summer circuit, Kim English and Nate Tomlinson were locked in on player evaluations at the Peach Jam in Augusta, Georgia.

English sat down low at one court, while Tomlinson was up top by the track, watching another.

While deep in his assessments, English received a phone call from Tomlinson, who made his case simple.

“I found him. I found the absolute perfect player for us.”

English hurried up the stairs and took in the game, featuring Chicago Mean Streets. His eyes immediately went to a 6’5, thick-bodied force, with a head full of hair and college-ready strength.

“That’s him,” Tomlinson said. “He’s like a Chicago Bull.”

And thus began the recruitment of Richard “Bull” Barron, a Swiss Army Knife of a player, who, at 220+ pounds, can shoot with impressive range, guard multiple positions, and flourish offensively on the perimeter or down in the post.

“He’s such a big, strong physical player,” associate head coach Dennis Felton said. “He can really bully you. But along with that strength comes a tremendous skill set. He can handle, pass and shoot the ball exceptionally well and he has a great understanding of the game.”

Barron stars for St. Ignatius High School, a marquee Windy City program which claimed regional, sectional and super sectional titles in 2022.

Barron garnered Class 3A First Team All-State accolades as a junior and was named to the Chicago Sun Times All-City Team after averaging 15.6 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. He also contributed, 1.3 assists and 1.2 steals per contest while shooting 36 percent from beyond the arc.

English compares Barron’s build and toughness to a young Corliss Williamson at Arkansas. From that initial Peach Jam evaluation in 2021 to his verbal commitment this fall, Mason’s head coach made sure to emphasize how much his staff valued and appreciated Barron's skill set, his drive and his character.

“We were incredibly consistent in his recruiting, through the ebbs and flows and as it took off with interest from the Big Ten and Pac 12,” English said. “But in the end, he chose who was most loyal, the most consistent and what he felt was the best plan for him as a player.”

Barron proved to be a critical piece of a St. Ignatius squad which claimed ISHA 3A Third Place accolades in 2022. Throughout that run, Barron dazzled on the court, but also showed his mettle in huddles, on the bench and off the court with his teammates.

“He’s a very unselfish player on the court and someone that has great care and spirit about himself,” Tomlinson said. “He loves his teammates, loves Mason and wants to win from day one.”

Barron’s big, physical presence, coupled with his deft skill set will make him one of the more intriguing Mason players to watch in recent memory.

“Fans can expect tremendous shooting range but also a great willingness to share the ball and good court vision,” Felton added. “He has the ability to see the game and make his teammates better with simple passes, but also dazzle with more complicated dime kind of passes. They are really going to enjoy watching him play.”