Last season, the GW men’s hoops team rode an undefeated conference season and gaudy #6 ranking (deserved or not) into the second round of the NCAA tournament. And now three Colonials – Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Mike Hall and Danilo Pinnock – are playing in the NBA preseason.

Pinnock was the only Colonial (and only player from a D.C.-area college) drafted, taken by the Mavericks in the late second round and promptly traded to the Lakers, while Hall was signed by the Wizards and Mensah-Bonsu by the Mavericks. Through four games, Hall is getting the most minutes with just over 16, Pops is getting more than 10, and Pinnock just over 9. The trio’s stats haven’t been eye-popping in the preseason, but that’s not unexpected from rookies.

All three have a good chance of making an NBA roster this season, most likely not on the teams’ 12-man active rosters but as one of three a team’s “inactive” players. These inactive players are paid, generally the league minimum of about $400,000, but do not suit up – they may be injured or play in the NBA’s developmental league and can be brought up to the NBA level. In fact, Dallas announced Tuesday that Mensah-Bonsu will start the year in the NBDL.

Mike Hall is competing for one of two roster spots for the Wiz, along with UVa alum Roger Mason Jr. and high schooler James Lang. Hall has played pretty well in the preseason, garnering some praise from Wizards brass. On Sunday, he helped bring the team back against the Cavs, and tallied 8 points and 4 boards Tuesday against the Bobcats.

Pinnock played well in the pre-training camp summer league, including breaking the basketball goal in a game, but hasn’t done too much in the preseason so far. The Lakers own their own NBDL team however, so Pinnock has a good shot of at least playing there.

Photo including Mensah-Bonsu (21), Hall (3) and Pinnock (2) by Flickr user ohad