Heading into his second summer at the helm of Penn State men’s basketball, head coach Mike Rhoades brought in a plethora of new faces to pair alongside his proven veteran core. Last season, 10 new players came to Happy Valley, and this season eight more will wear the blue and white for the first time.
The turnover brings excitement for Penn State along with plenty of question marks and growing pains.
Ace Baldwin Jr. is one of those savvy veterans who young players look up to. Coming off a campaign as Big Ten Defensive Player of The Year and returning to State College for his fifth season, Baldwin has grown into a much-needed leader for Rhoades.
“This is the best Ace Baldwin I’ve ever seen on and off the court. Super proud of him. He’s been in the gym more than any player on our team this offseason. He’s done a great job leading by example on the court but also helping the young guys,” Rhoades said.
Jahvin Carter and Dominick Stewart are two of the players learning the most from Baldwin. Both freshman guards came to Happy Valley as part of the most talented recruiting classes in history.
“You come in as a freshman, you think you have an idea of what college basketball is… but to see [Baldwin] day in and day out and the work he’s putting in and then also the energy he exerts every day in practice, I think it makes them understand that there is a lot more that I need to learn,” guards coach Jamal Brunt said.
Carter, who hails from Tennessee, fits the natural position of point guard and is a possible successor to Baldwin for next year.
“[Baldwin] is one of the top guards in the country. So for me to come in and watch what he does every day and how he works, it’s a great position for me to be in for the next few years,” Carter said.
Stewart is a bigger guard who can play as a combo threat for the Nittany Lions, but the impact Baldwin is having on him is just the same as Carter’s.
“We all look up to [Baldwin] and we all look to him for advice and stuff like that. I always talked to him on the sidelines asking him for pointers, advice, you name it,” Stewart said.
The past five weeks have proven to Rhoades and the rest of the staff the importance of returning veteran play for younger guys in their first offseason. It’s also been beneficial for the transfers who are new to Penn State basketball as well.
Puff Johnson, who announced his return to Penn State days after the season ended, Zach Hicks and D’Marco Dunn are also crucial leaders on and off the court for the new guys on the block.
Rhoades called having the five returning players alongside the newcomers for the summer and into the season, “Maybe the best advantage we have right now.”
Momentum is key for the rest of the summer just as it was key at the end of the season before the transfer portal opened. With only three weeks left in the summer schedule, the Nittany Lions are trying to build as much momentum as possible before the fall rolls around.
