Returning Nittany Lions find opportunity with Mike Rhoades

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – With a team that had 7 graduating seniors leaving the program, Penn State men’s basketball looked to have a bright future ahead after their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2011.

But, one event changed the course of the team with high hopes. According to Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, former head coach Micah Shrewsberry left Penn State to take over the Notre Dame program.

With his departure, Shrewsberry took freshman forward Kebba Njie and the entirety of Penn State’s 2023 commit class, featuring guards Logan Imes, Braeden Shrewsberry and forward Carey Booth. It also had some role players enter the transfer portal:

• Evan Mahaffey, Ohio State, Guard

• Dallion Johnosn, Florida Gulf Coast, Guard

• Caleb Dorsey, William & Mary, Forward

That left five players from the 2022 NCAA Tournament team to stay with head coach Mike Rhoades. While it includes walk-ons Dan Conlan and Andy Christos, three scholarship players returned for another year in the Bryce Jordan Center: guard Kanye Clary, guard Jameel Brown and forward Demetrius Lilley.

Recruiting them back was a long process, but for Rhoades’ staff, it was part of the job. “It was our job as a staff to spend a lot of time with them and get to know them and have a lot of open communication,” Rhoades said.

The former VCU Staff had many spots to fill in the roster. With that, they used the amount of space on the team to their advantage during their pitches.

“Anybody that’s returning to a program that needs 10 other sports is a great opportunity,” Rhoades said. “No matter what, 18 to 22-year-olds that are competitive athletes, they have opportunity. They want to compete for it.”

For Clary, who averaged 10.4 minutes and 3.7 points per game in his 32 appearances, he served as the third-string point guard and learned under the wings of guards Camryn Winter and Jalen Pickett. Now, he has former VCU guard Ace Baldwin, Jr. to help develop the Virginia Beach native in his second season, along with the same play style he had in high school.

“Kanye was familiar with how we play,” Rhoades said. “His high school coach went to VCU. He was familiar with some of the guys on staff.”

Last season, VCU ranked No. 142 at the end of the 2022-2023 season in adjusted tempo per 100 possessions, according to KenPom. Penn State falls near that same mark entering this season, being at No. 166, almost 150 positions higher than last year’s team in adjusted tempo.

With a player like Clary, who loves to go downhill into the lane, the system could cause a breakout season. “It definitely works in my favor,” Clary said. “I think just all of these pieces on this team are just going to make everybody benefit from it.”

“He’ll play fast and aggressive because he can get downhill,” Rhoades said.

It worked to Clary’s advantage, as he had a career night as the starting point guard of the Nittany Lions. He finished with a career-high 22 points on 63.6% shooting while tacking on seven boards in Penn State’s 79-45 victory over Delaware State.

With the new fast-paced look on offense, Rhoades mentioned how the transition three could work with players like Brown and Temple transfer Zach Hicks.

“If you run hard and you play with pace, you’ll have more opportunities for those transition threes. So, I think that’s to our advantage,” Rhoades said.

For Brown, he cashed in on the season opener, scoring 20 points off 6-8 shooting from downtown, marking a career-best for the sophomore. In preparing for the upcoming season in a brand new system, the Philadelphia native focused on one thing that he learned from his freshman year.

“My biggest takeaway from year one was to always stay ready,” Brown said.

That came in a big way whenever guard and North Carolina transfer Puff Johnson did not play to open the season. Brown stepped in and was ready for his big moment in the Mike Rhoades era.

As for the big man in Demetrius Lilley, who saw 10 minutes of action and contributed two points and four rebounds, however, he had bigger things to focus on over the offseason.

“Coach Rhoades told me if you don’t go home and lose weight, you’re not playing this season,” Lilley said. “So, I went home, lost like 40 pounds, got myself together, came back, and now I’m here.”

The 6-foot-10 Philadelphia product had many ideas to help, but one goal stood in his mind when staying at Penn State. “Being a leader on and off the court,” Lilley said.

Jonathan Draeger is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jrd6052@psu.edu.