James P. Mastaglio ’98

A cornerstone of some of Princeton’s winningest basketball teams, James died July 25, 2023, after a brief battle with aggressive lymphoma. He was 47.

Stags came to Princeton from Garden City (N.Y.) High School and immediately moved into the starting lineup for Coach Pete Carril’s 1994-95 team. With James on the roster, the Tigers won three Ivy League titles, two NCAA tournament games, and cracked the top 10 in the national college rankings his senior year.

Off the court, Stags managed to weave sports into his studies. His thesis for the politics department was titled “Pay for Play: Compensating the College Athlete.” He was a member of Cap and Gown Club.

More recently, James notched athletic accomplishments as coach for his children’s teams and as a golfer. As an officer of Cherry Valley Club on Long Island, he was able to transform his hometown course while indulging his lifelong fascination with golf course design. Professionally, he was the co-founder and principal of a financial services company.

James is survived by his wife, Bridgette; daughter Olivia; son Kellan; father Peter; and sister Elizabeth. The Class of 1998 sends its condolences to James’ family and many fans.