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Weekend Update – June 27

Recruiting:


Alumni:

 

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Penn State’s Newbill could go in second round of NBA draft

Philadelphia Inquirer:

LAS VEGAS – D.J. Newbill is the poster child for perseverance.

He overcame it when his dream college turned its back on him and then the situation at his new school did not work out. He also dealt with the death of his mother. But while some people might have given up on their dreams, the recent Penn State graduate remained motivated.

Now the 6-foot-4, 210-pound point guard could hear his named called in the second round of the NBA draft on June 25.

“I talk to all my friends back home. We joke and laugh about how far I came until now,” Newbill said after a pro day workout Friday in front of 76ers general manager Sam Hinkie and other NBA executives and scouts. “They always tell me, ‘Man, we all want a chance like this.’ And I realize that.

“So this is a privilege. I’m happy to be in this situation. So I just take it in and maximize this opportunity.”

The former Strawberry Mansion High School standout was in Denver Monday, working out for the Nuggets. That marked his fourth workout in as many days.

After his pro day, he worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers (Saturday) and the Indiana Pacers (Sunday). He has also worked out for the 76ers, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons and Oklahoma City Thunder. He is scheduled to work out for the Orlando Magic, Atlanta Hawks and the Clippers, a second time, before the draft.

Newbill could be a second-round steal….

Source: Penn State’s Newbill could go in second round of NBA draft

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Geno Thorpe out


Geno Thorpe (Black Shoe Diaries)

Geno Thorpe and Penn State have parted ways. A statement from Penn State:

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Patrick Chambers, head coach of the Penn State men’s basketball team, announced Thursday that Geno Thorpe, a sophomore guard from Pittsburgh, would not return to the Nittany Lions next season.

“We thank Geno for his two years at Penn State and wish him well,” Chambers said.

Thorpe saw action in 66 games during his two seasons with Penn State, averaging 6.0 points and 2.1 rebounds.

Geno could turn it up on defense, his offense was developing, and he had that certain, well,  je nais se quoi:

Eugene Melvin Thorpe III, we hardly knew ya!

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ESPN: 2017 Super 60

ESPN’s 2017 Super 60 includes:

  • No. 10: Mohammed Bamba, 6-10, of New York and now at Westtown School
  • No. 12: Lonnie Walker, 6-5, Reading High School
  • No. 13: Trevon Duval, of Wilmington and now at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, NJ
  • No. 21: Cody Riley, 6-7, Sierra Canyon High School, CA
  • No. 37: Ira Lee, 6-8, Sierra Canyon High School, CA
  • No. 43: Quade Green, 5-11, Philadelphia Neumann-Goretti

Source: ESPN Basketball Recruiting – Super 60 Player Rankings

Updated 10:36 a.m. to add others on the UncleLar™ Recruiting Matrix.

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Pre-summer 2016 Top 100s

Tony Carr and Lamar Stevens, two members of Philly AAU Team Final (and teammates of Penn State commit Nazeer Bostick there and at Philly Roman Catholic this coming season), have been named to both ESPN and Scout’s pre-summer top 100 recruiting rankings.

Tony Carr: 41 Scout; 52 ESPN
Lamar Stevens: 74 ESPN, 88 Scout

Carr is ranked 41 by Scout and 52 by ESPN. Stevens is ranked 74 by ESPN and 88 by Scout.

Penn State is also recruiting the DMV’s Markelle Fultz (21 ESPN, 23 Scout), who visited Penn State in the spring, and is said to be recruting Kevin Huerter  (63 Scout, 73 ESPN), who comes from Talor Battle’s neck of the woods.

Markelle Fultz: 21 ESPN, 23 Scout
Kevin Huerter: 63 Scout, 73 ESPN

With Bostick and Joe Hampton of Oak Hill Academy, Penn State has two commitments from the class of ’16, and barring any summer changes (transfers in or out), three scholarships left for the early signing period in November.

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Recruiting timeline

We’re in a recruiting quiet period now, with the big summer evaluation period starting July 8. Here’s when news has broken in the past:

2011

  • DJ Newbill: August 12, 2011
  • Brandon Taylor: September 5, 2011 (senior year)
  • Geno Thorpe: November 8, 2011 (junior year)

2012

  • Brandon Austin: February 9, 2012 (junior year)
  • Isaiah Washington: April 1, 2012 (sophomore year)
  • Donovon Jack: May 3, 2012 (senior year, following release from Duquesne)
  • Julian Moore: July 27, 2012 (pre senior year)

2013

  • Mike Watkins: June 12, 2013 (pre junior year)
  • Shep Garner: June 15, 2013 (pre senior year)

2014

  • Deividas Zemgulis: May 12, 2014 (junior year)
  • Josh Reaves: July 1, 2014 (pre senior year)
  • Joe Hampton: August 2, 2014 (pre junior year)

2015

  • Nazeer Bostick: April 30, 2015 (junior year)
  • Joe Hampton: May 15, 2015 (senior junior year)

 

Discuss it at Recruiting – PennStateHoops.com: Penn State Nittany Lion basketball and recruiting

 

11:53 a.m.: Updated to correct Joe Hampton’s class status…

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BlueWhite Illustrated: Newbill on the road for NBA opportunity

Nate Bauer:

In Dallas to complete his fourth individual team workout this summer, just off trips to Los Angeles (Clippers) and Phoenix for the same reason earlier in the week, Newbill is working to secure a future in the NBA. With a support structure that mirrored Fraziers own as hes climbed to the Portland Trailblazers after winning the D-League Rookie and Player of the Year awards, the Penn State hoops program is pulling for Newbill.

“We FaceTimed with him yesterday,” said Frazier, noting the group video chat he had with Newbill alongside Chambers and former teammates Ross Travis and Alan Wisniewski Thursday afternoon. “I try to give him little tidbits, but a lot of times I think what’s best is you kind of stick to yourself. You know what you have to do, you work hard. He knows I’m there for him.

“He had a tremendous year. I’m in the D-League, doing what I’m doing having a great year, but I’d catch games as much as possible and I’m like, ‘D.J. You are doing a helluva job! You’re leading this team.’ As a fan, now that you leave, it’s awesome to see that. We just played alongside each other two years ago and now you’re doing it by yourself and you’re able to succeed the way he did is awesome.”

With his span of four workouts for Western Conference teams wrapped last week, Newbill is now expected to have at least six more workouts with Eastern Conference teams in the next three weeks leading up to the 2015 NBA Draft set for June 25 in Brooklyn, including an expected stop with his hometown Sixers.

Source: BlueWhiteIllustrated.com – Newbill on the road for NBA opportunity