PORTALES, N.M. – Forward Mario Whitley will compete at Eastern New Mexico during the 2023-24 season after one year at Seward Community College.

"Mario was considered amongst the best junior college players in the country last year. He averaged great scoring and rebounding numbers in a really strong junior college conference," said head coach Brent Owen on the forward. "Mario is a great athlete who can finish and rebound above the rim. He also fits perfectly into our defensive system with his ability to defend multiple positions. We are excited to get on the court with him next month."
 
At SCCC, he averaged 14.5 points per game along with 7.0 rebounds per contest. He tallied 21 games with double digit scoring and four double doubles. He earned honorable mention all-KJCCC honors while helping the team win its most games (13) since the 2019-20 season.
 
In 2021-22, Whitley played at Lee College in Baytown, Texas. He helped the team go 27-6 and 17-2 in league play to share a regular season title. The team finished the season as the No. 19 team in the country that year. He scored 12.8 points per game for the former Runnin' Rebels (now Navigators). He shot 59.9% from the field and grabbed 6.3 rebounds per contest.
 
During the 2020-21 academic year, he competed with fellow Greyhound Liam Canty with Strength & Motion in San Antonio, Texas.
 
Whitley holds top accolades at the high school level where he played at Frankenmuth High School in Michigan. He played all four seasons and helped the program go 77-14 in that span. He was named the Saginaw News Player of the Year in 2018 and totaled 1,644 career points along with 823 rebounds and 216 steals.