Jahmai Mashack wants to be remembered as a winner — someone whose legacy is defined by that word.
"It's the most important thing that I can be known for at this university," he said, "and what I want to leave and what I want my name attached to."
That pursuit extends beyond basketball. But one recent moment on the court epitomizes Mashack's mission.
On March 1, with 3.8 seconds left in a tie game against Alabama, he took the inbound pass, sprinted up the floor and launched a deep 3-pointer that rattled through the net as the buzzer sounded. Food City Center erupted, and Tennessee notched a statement win over a Southeastern Conference rival.
Yet, for Mashack, the true victory came hours later when he used the moment to launch a virtual food drive with Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. His initial goal was $7,900 — matching Tennessee's 79 points in the win. That number was shattered within hours, and by the next day, donations surpassed $36,000. The total has since exceeded $40,000.
For Mashack, the shot was a dream moment on the court, but the impact he created off it was even greater.
"VolNation! Let's take this WIN to a greater level!" he posted on his X account after the win.
That mindset — leveraging every opportunity to uplift others — has defined Mashack's career at Tennessee. Whether through leadership, community service or defensive intensity on the court, his influence reaches far beyond the box score.
A leader and voice for others
As the chair of the Southeastern Conference Men's Basketball Leadership Council, Mashack represents his fellow student-athletes, helping shape policies on mental health, athlete safety and the student-athlete experience. In 2023-24, he served as the SEC's representative on the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Oversight Committee Student-Athlete Engagement Group, ensuring that players have a seat at the table in discussions that impact their futures.
The Division I Men's Basketball Student-Athlete Engagement Group was established in 2023, mirroring the structure of the women's group formed in 2021. It ensures that one student-athlete from each Division I conference is directly involved in key initiatives, legislation and issues shaping college basketball.
"It's definitely a special opportunity," Mashack said. "It's something that I definitely don't take for granted, to be able to voice my opinion on a lot of things, to be able to kind of have a leadership role as well."
For Mashack, leadership is not just about speaking up — it's about leaving the sport better than he found it.
"It's extremely important to me because I don't think about it just for myself," he said. "I think about it for my teammates. I think about it for the future of my university and the people that are coming in there. I think about it for people who have a great opportunity to change their lives with something like college basketball."
His dedication to service has not gone unnoticed. Mashack is a two-time SEC Community Service Team honoree, recognized for his efforts in addressing food insecurity, mentoring young athletes and uplifting his community.
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes has seen firsthand what makes Mashack special.
"I still think his best days are ahead of him," Barnes said. "But I can remember the first time talking to his family, I knew I hung up the phone thinking that would be a real blessing for me to have a chance to coach him and be around his family. Him being here has been really a blessing."
Tennessee men's basketball senior Jahmai Mashack (No. 15) celebrates with teammates and fans after hitting a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer against rival Alabama in the regular season. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo / Getty Images)
A family rooted in college sports and service
For Mashack, college athletics has always been more than a game — it's a way of life ingrained in his family.
His father, Elton Mashack, was a standout basketball player at Loyola Marymount University from 1997 to 2001, scoring over 1,000 career points and earning All-West Coast Conference first-team honors as a senior. Now a firefighter, he continues to serve others in a different capacity.
His mother, Meika Mashack, ran track at UNLV before graduating from California and building a career focused on helping others. As the CEO of Coaching Without Walls, she empowers individuals and organizations to develop leadership and resilience.
Jahmai's older brother, Kwesi, played cornerback at Arizona from 2014-17 and is now coaching at East Central. His younger sister, Malika, is following in their mother's footsteps as a track and field athlete at UNLV.
"Growing up, we would run into people that knew (our parents), that talked about their impact — not just what they did on the court or the track but how they helped people outside of that," Mashack said.
Now, he's carrying that legacy forward in his own way. Through Second Harvest, Mashack has helped provide meals for over 3,500 people and has played a role in raising over $1 million to combat food insecurity in Knoxville.
In addition to his work with Second Harvest, Mashack is a member of VOICE, a Black student-athlete council focused on community service, and he speaks at schools and churches through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. These platforms have allowed him to extend his influence beyond basketball, mentoring young athletes and emphasizing the importance of faith, leadership and service.
His commitment to service has traveled far beyond Tennessee, too. As a member of VOLeaders Academy, he journeyed to the Philippines in July 2023 for a service trip that reshaped his perspective.
"Even if (the locals) were lacking in food, if they were lacking in water, if they were lacking in supplies, they had each other," he said. "And I think that was the biggest eye-opening thing for me was that I don't think I saw anybody that was sad over there."
When facing tough moments, whether on the court or in life, he reminds himself of that experience.
"In times where I'm feeling down about myself — whether it was a bad game, a bad practice or a bad few days of classes — I try to remember where my feet are," he said. "I'm blessed to be put in a position to impact so many people, to play the sport that I love and to give my heart and soul to a university that I know loves me."
March Madness mentality
As the Division I Men's Basketball Championship gets underway, Mashack is locked in on making his final NCAA tournament run his best one yet for Tennessee, which secured a No. 2 seed and will face Wofford in the first round Thursday in Lexington, Kentucky.
For Mashack, March Madness is a lifelong tradition.
"It's surreal," he said. "I was watching March Madness every March. It was like a holiday for me. My mom let me miss school for a day."
Now, he's the one making the plays that young fans dream about. His defense and energy were crucial to Tennessee's Elite Eight run last season and a Sweet 16 appearance in 2023. This season, he's looking to take the Volunteers even further.
"My first time being on the court in March Madness my freshman year, it was something I'll never forget," he said. "I want to do everything I can to make this last year the best year and to make this run the best run."
A legacy beyond basketball
Mashack's time at Tennessee has shaped him in ways that extend beyond the game. In December, he earned his degree in psychology.
In recognition of his academic excellence, leadership and commitment to serving others, Tennessee presented Mashack with a 2024-25 Torchbearer Award, the highest student honor conferred by the university. The award is given to students who exemplify the Volunteer spirit through initiative and service, making significant contributions to both the university and the community.
Asked what his time at Tennessee has meant to him, Mashack paused for a moment before answering.
"Tennessee has been nothing short of amazing," he said. "All I thought about before was basketball and going to school … not realizing the people that I was going to meet and how they were going to impact me. They want to get better. They want to be able to be an even finer university, and I think with that mindset, you can't fail. I want to be able to do everything I can to help with that."
