Sports Poets Society

Position: Guard Height: 5-9 Weight: 160 Class: Fr. Hometown: Detroit, Mich. Highschool: River Rouge   EMU: Joined EMU as a freshman prior to the 2015-16 campaign... High School: Named First Team All-State by the Detroit News , while being named to the second team by the Detroit Free Press ...As a senior, Stone averaged 21 points, six assists and four steals per contest...Ranked as the eighth-best college prospect in the state of Michigan according to ESPN.com...Earned the No. 55 ranking at point guard in the country by ESPN.com...Played at River Rouge for his father LaMonta Stone, who was an EMU men's basketball assistant coach from 2000-02... Personal: Full Name: LaMonta Anthony Stone II...Son of Lamonta and Tomica Stone...Has two brothers, Lance and Landen... Major: Undecided.

Position: Center Height: 6-10 Weight: 220 Class: Fr. Hometown: Baton Rouge, La. Highschool: Parkview Baptist EMU: Joined the Eagles as a freshman prior to the 2015-16 campaign...High School: Played under Donnie Green at Parkview Baptist High School in Baton Rouge, La....Was voted his team's most valuable player as a junior and a senior...Was a three-time first team all-state award winner...Earned first team all-Baton Rouge Metro honors during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons....Averaged 24 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks per game as a senior, 20 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks as a junior and 17 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in his sophomore stint...Played AAU ball for the Louisiana Future and Houston Hoops for Head Coach Titus Randle...Was a key factor in Houston Hoops' run to the championship of the Fab 48 in Las Vegas, Nev. during the summer of 2013...Personal: Full Name: James Thompson IV...Son of James Thompson III and Yosiata Steptore...Has one

Position: Guard Height: 6-7 Weight: 160 Class: So. Hometown: Baltimore, Md. Highschool: City College High School EMU: Joined EMU as a true freshman prior to the 2014-15 campaign…2014-15: Missed the entire non-conference season due to injury, but played all 22 of the Eagles' remaining contests, starting six of them...Averaged 6.4 points and 2.7 rebounds, while knocking down 43.1 percent of his field goal attempts...Posted double-digit scoring efforts in six games, including a career-high 15 versus Toledo, March 6...Recorded nearly one block per game, including three at Ball State, March 3...Pulled down a career-high seven rebounds in three contests...High School: Led City College High School to the Maryland Class 3A State Championship after the Knights went 27-0 during his senior season…Was a four-year letterwinner...Averaged 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game this season…Posted an average of six steals and three blocked shots...Named All-Metro First Team in his

Position: Guard Height: 6-3 Weight: 175 Class: R-Jr. Hometown: Detroit, Mich. Highschool: Romulus EMU: Joined EMU as a freshman prior to the 2012-13 campaign...2014-15: Earned All-MAC Third Team accolades...Posted the most points by an EMU sophomore with 586 on the year, helping surpass the 1,000 point mark in his career...Appeared in 35 games, starting in 32 of them...Led the Eagles in scoring, while finishing the season second in the MAC at 16.7 points per game...Had the fourth-best free throw percentage in the conference at 79.5 percent...Averaged two three-point makes per game, good for 10th in the conference...Recorded 1.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.4 steals per contest, while knocking down 44.3 percent of his field goal attempts on the year...Scored in double-figures all but five games during the season...Scored 20-or-more points in 10 games, including a pair of 30-plus point outbursts...Posted a season-high 33 points at Ohio (Feb. 7), including 31 second half points and 24 o

Hometown: Newtown Square, Pa. Position: Head Coach Birthdate: 12/13/1970 Alma Mater: Philadelphia '94 Over the last four seasons, Patrick Chambers has reinvigorated Penn State basketball. Since being named the 12th head coach in program history June 6, 2011, the Philly native quickly energized his players and staff, as well as the Penn State fan base with his passion, enthusiasm and his team’s all-out style of play. This year’s freshman class - the first Top 30 recruiting class in PSU history - clearly illustrates the progress Chambers and his staff have made during their time in Happy Valley. The future continues to be bright as Penn State makes its mark around the state and region. Chambers has sent players into the professional ranks in each of the last two years with Tim Frazier (2010-14) currently signed with the Portland Trail Blazers after also spending time with the Philadelphia Sixers, and with D.J. Newbill (2013-15) playing professionally in Europe with AS

Class: Junior Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y. High School: Victory Collegiate Last College: UConn Height / Weight: 6-4 / 205 Position: Guard Will be eligible to compete for Penn State for two seasons beginning in 2016-17 after sitting out the 2015-16 campaign to satisfy NCAA transfer requirements. PRIOR TO PENN STATE While at UConn, appeared in 65 career games for the Huskies, averaging 3.0 points and 1.7 rebounds… Saw tin every game for the Huskies as a sophomore and made eight starts this past season… Played in 30 games his freshman year, improving as the season went on... Provided great defense off the bench as a freshman throughout UConn’s run to the NCAA Championship. AS A SOPHOMORE (2014-15): Saw time in all 35 of UConn’s games, averaging 3.6 points and 2.5 rebounds Made his first career start against Texas (11/30) and had eight starts on the year Reached double-figures three times, including in UConn’s First Round NIT game against Arizona State (3/18) Scored a career-high 1

Class: Junior Hometown: Springfield, Va. High School: West Springfield Height / Weight: 6-0 / 185 Position: Guard AS A SOPHOMORE (2014-15) Joined the Nittany Lions after walk-on tryouts and was a valuable member of scout team during practice Did not dress or travel with team HIGH SCHOOL Played two years of varsity basketball at West Springfield ... As a senior captain in 2011-12, averaged 5.3 points and 1.5 assists per game ... Earned the team’s Spartan Award in 2012 ... Three-time recipient of a GPA Achievment Award. PERSONAL Born Samuel George Halle on November 16, 1993 ... Son of Michael and Danella Halle ... Has two brothers, Jacob and David ... Majoring in kinesiology with aspirations of becoming a physician.

Class: Senior Hometown: Reading, Pa. High School: Berks Catholic Height / Weight: 6-9 / 210 Position: Forward AS A JUNIOR (2014-15) Saw action in all 34 games, making 12 starts Averaged 3.5 ppg and 2.7 rpg with 26 total blocks Tied for No. 7 all-time in PSU career blocks with Jordan Dickerson ... Each have 82 to their credit Combined 15-18 from the FT line in the last 19 games Produced five points vs. Purdue in Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal (3/13/15), the most in span of 13 games Had six points, with 4-4 showing from FT line, and put up season-high four blocks vs. Minnesota (1/28/15) ... Moved into eighth all-time in PSU career blocks with performance against the Gophers Went 4-4 from the field vs. Michigan (1/6/15) and hit lone free throw attempt for nine points ... Also had four rebounds ... First time in 50 games played without a personal foul vs. the Wolverines Well-rounded performance vs. Drexel (12/20/14) with 8 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks Produced fourth career double-d

Class: Senior Hometown: Dayton, Ohio High School: Jefferson Township Last College: Vincennes (Ind.) Height / Weight: 6-2 / 205 Position: Guard AS A JUNIOR (2014-15) Saw action in 19 games on the season, including 14 Big Ten contests Averaged 2.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg in his first season at Penn State Averaged 5.0 ppg and 3.3 rpg with 15-23 FGs and 5-6 FTs over seven-game span before injuring knee and missing the Maryland game (2/14/15) Saw action in all three Big Ten Tournament games, producing 2.3 ppg and 3.0 rpg Tallied second 3-pointer of the season in win over Iowa (3/12/15) ... Both treys this came against the Hawkeyes Grabbed career-high eight rebounds vs. Nebraska (3/11/15), including seven on the defensive end Was perfect from the free throw line (2-2) for the first time in his career at PSU against Ohio State (3/4/15) Logged first career triple against Iowa (2/28/15), adding one steal and one block Scored 8 points vs. Minnesota (1/28/15), going 3-3 from field and 2

Class: Freshman Hometown: Kaunas, Lithuania High School: St. Mary Ryken (Md.) Height / Weight: 6-6 / 220 Position: Forward HIGH SCHOOL Two-year starter for St. Mary’s Ryken in Leonardtown, Maryland ... Captain his senior year ... Only senior from the 2014-15 team who is playing college basketball ... Averaged 15 ppg in final high school season ... Rated as a 3-star recruit and as the 11th best recruit in Maryland in the class of 2015 by ESPN.com ... One of three players from ESPN.com’s top-25 recruits from his class in Maryland signed by a school from the Big Ten ... Played AAU with Threat 220. PERSONAL Born June 6, 1996 in Lithuania to Vytautas and Gitana Zemgulis ... Has a brother, Aurimas, and a sister, Gabriele ... Was a member of the U16 Lithuanian team that competed in the European Championships.

BLUE RIBBON ANALYSIS BACKCOURT    C  FRONTCOURT  B-  BENCH/DEPTH C  INTANGIBLES  C LOCATION   State College, PA  CONFERENCE   Big Ten (since 1992-93) LAST SEASON    18-16 (.471)  CONFERENCE RECORD   4-14 (13th)  STARTERS RETURNING/LOST   3/2  NICKNAME   Nittany Lions  COLORS   Blue & White  HOME COURT   Bryce Jordan Center (15,261)  COACH   Patrick Chambers (Philadelphia Univ. ’94) - 2018-19 RECORD AT SCHOOL  56-75 (4 years)   CAREER RECORD   98-103 (6 years)  ASSISTANTS: Keith Urgo (Fairfield ’02) Dwayne Anderson (Villanova ’09) Ross Condon (Villanova ’07)  WINS (LAST 5 YRS.)   19-12-10-16-18 RPI (LAST 5 YRS.)    48-160-183-115-109  2014-15 FINISH   Lost in Big Ten quarter finals. Thanks to stability and little roster turnover, Penn State enjoyed its first winning season under Chambers and the program’s first since Ed Dechellis went 19-15 in 2010-11, his final season . The Nittany Lions have won 18 or more three times in the l

Class: RS Freshman Hometown: Williamsport, Pa. High School: Williamsport Height / Weight: 6-3 / 160 Position: Guard AS A FRESHMAN (2014-15): Saw first career action vs. Fordham (11/16), tallying first PSU point off a free throw in the second half Received a medical hardship waiver for the season and has four years of eligibility remaining. HIGH SCHOOL Washington finished his career at Williamsport ranked first all-time in steals, made/attempted free throws and is in the Top 5 of games played. He averaged 22 points per game as a senior after putting up 16.6 ppg during his junior season at Williamsport in 2012-13, guiding the Millionaires to a 23-3 record. They earned a District 2/4-AAAA crown before advancing to the second round of the PIAA Class AAAA playoffs. The combo guard started all four seasons for coach Allen Taylor's squad, ending his career as a two-time all-state selection. A former AAU teammate of PSU redshirt-freshman Julian Moore, Washington spent the last several

Class: Freshman Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.  High School: Phelps School Height / Weight: 6-8 / 245 Position: Forward HIGH SCHOOL Played senior season at The Phelps School in 2014-15 ... Won the 2015 PISAA Championship game against Westtown after overcoming a 16-point third-quarter deficit ... Tallied 12 points, 8 rebounds and 6 blocks in the comeback victory ... Averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds and 6.5 blocks a game during his final high school season ... As a junior at Philadelphia’s Math, Civics & Sciences (MCSCS) in 2013-14, reached the 2014 PIAA – A tournament championship game while racking up 17 points, 17 rebounds and 5 blocks in a runner-up finish to Lincoln Park Performing Arts ... Averaged 11 points, 12.5 rebounds and 5 blocks during a junior campaign in which he totaled 17 double-doubles ... Played AAU with Team Philly, the same program which produced senior Brandon Taylor ... Rated as a 4-star recruit and the 3rd best recruit from Pennsylvania in the class of 2015

Class: Senior Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y. High School: IMG Academy/Abraham Lincoln Last College: SMU Height / Weight: 7-1 / 245 Position: Center AS A JUNIOR (2014-15) Saw action in 29 games on the season season, including 17 of 18 Big Ten contests ... Averaged 8.7 minutes per appearance Saw action in all 34 games, starting 19 ... Has made 23 total starts at Penn State ... Returned to starting lineup vs. Nebraska (2/7/15) and started in each of the final 11 games of the season Has 82 career blocks in 1.5 seasons at Penn State, tied with Donovon Jack for the seventh-most in a PSU career Had multiple blocks in 17 games on the season ... Led the team with 53, tying Jack’s 2013-14 total in the No. 8 spot in a single season Averaged 1.6 blocks per game, which was tied for fifth in the Big Ten after the conference tournament Averaged 3.0 ppg and 2.3 rpg with four blocks through three B1G tourney games ... Shot 71 percent from FT line in tourney action, up from season average of 60 percent H

Class: Senior Hometown: Tabernacle, N.J. High School: Trenton Catholic Height / Weight: 6-6 / 225 Position: Forward AS A JUNIOR (2014-15): Saw action in 32 games, making 25 starts ... Missed two games with knee injury Averaged 9.1 ppg and 5.3 rpg to credit over the course of the season Finished second on the team in rebounds and third in scoring and blocks Ranked No. 10 in career blocks at Penn State with 74 after posting a career-high five against Nebraska (3/11/15) in the Big Ten Tournament The five-block showing was a PSU record in conference tourney action Scored in double-figures in 12 of last 18 regular-season games played, including each of the last two Shot 47 percent from behind the arc in the last five games of the season, hitting multiple treys in three games ... Shot 46 percent from field in same stretch Went 3-3 from behind the arc vs. Purdue (1/17/15) Tallied 11 points, five rebounds and a career-high four assists at Indiana (1/13/15) Produced the team’s first doub

Class: Sophomore Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa. High School: Germantown Academy Height / Weight: 6-10 / 235 Position: Forward AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMEN (2014-15) Saw action in 33 games on the season, making one start vs. Iowa (2/28/15) Averaged 1.5 points and 1.6 rebounds per games Recorded at least two blocks in each of the final two regular-season games of the season and the Big Ten Tournament opening-round game vs. Nebraska Tallied points in four of the last five games of the season Had three points in second-round action vs. Iowa in the Big Ten Tournament, converting on a dunk midway through second half and adding the and-one attempt Made his first career start against Iowa (2/28), tallying the opening field goal of the game as well as four rebounds and one block Recorded his first career 3-pointer on his first career attempt against Wisconsin (2/18) ... Also had four rebounds vs. the Badgers Had career game at Illinois (1/31/15), finishing with 10 points, four rebounds a

Class: Freshman Hometown: Fairfax, Va. High School: Oak Hill Academy (Va.) Height / Weight: 6-4 / 190 Position: Guard HIGH SCHOOL An ESPN four-star recruit, ranked 74th in the nation ... The second-ranked player out of Virginia according to Scout ... Played three seasons at Paul VI before transferring Oak Hill (Va.) for senior season ... Won a state championship in the 2013-2014 season as a starter for Paul VI ... A 2014 All-Met and all-state selection after helping lead PVI to the Alhambra Catholic championship where they beat DeMatha ... Part of the 2014 WCAC champion and 2014 All-WCAC teams ... Named a 2014 VISSA first-team all-state selection ... Amassed a record of 80-22 throughout his first three years with PVI ... Senior year transferred to Oak Hill Academy ... Went 47-1 including a Bass Pro Shops Championship in 2015 where he posted 12 points, five rebounds, and five steals against his former school PVI in the second round ... Captain as both a junior and senior ... Helped

Class:Sophomore  Hometown: Orange, Calif.  High School: Lutheran Height / Weight: 6-6 / 220  Position: Forward AS A REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2014-15) Saw action in 29 games on the season season, including 17 of 18 Big Ten contests ... Averaged 8.7 minutes per appearance All but four made fields goals came from behind arc (11/15) Hit a trio of treys vs. Minnesota (1/28/15), ending with a career-high nine points and three rebounds Drained a pair of 3-pointers on only two shots of the day vs. Purdue (1/17/15) Scored career-high 7 points in 15 minutes vs. Drexel (12/20) ... Was 2-2 from floor with one trey Played three minutes vs. George Washington (12/14), tallying a 3-pointer on only shot attempt on the day Produced first career block, two steals and a 2-2 showing from FT line in 6 minutes vs. Duquesne (12/10) Hit first career FG at Marshall (12/6), draining a 3-pointer at the 6:37 mark of the first half to give the Lions a 19-17 lead ... The team would not trail again Gra

Class: Sophomore  Hometown: Chester, Pa. High School: Roman Catholic (2014) Height / Weight: 6-1 / 185 Position: Guard AS A FRESHMAN (2014-15) Started 33 of 34 games, averaging 9.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game ... Lone game off bench was Senior Night vs. Ohio State (3/4/15) Finished second on team in scoring and assists, behind only D.J. Newbill Hit at least one 3-pointer in all but four games this season and multiple treys in 16 games ... Finished second on team in treys with 59 Had career-high five treys vs. Nebraska in Big Ten tourney (3/11/15), tied for most by a PSU player on the season Averaged 10.0 ppg over three Big Ten Tournament games after career-high 10-point outing vs. Nebraska (3/11/15) and 10.7 ppg over the last seven games of the season In final 11 games of 2014-15, had 24 assists with seven tunovers for assist-to-turnover ratio of 3.4, up from season average of 1.8 In Big Ten regular-season games, scored 9.6 ppg in nine road contests, comp

http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2015/11/28/9811240/penn-state-bucknell-basketball-2015-final-score-brandon-taylor-shep-garner-pat-chambers Payton Banks nailed the game-winning three-pointer with 22 seconds left to help Penn State knock off Bucknell By Tim Aydin @happyhourvalley on Nov 28, 2015, 3:58p It was a tight back-and-forth affair in the first half, with neither team establishing a lead larger than five points. PSU led only 30-29 at the half, despite the fact Penn State significantly outshot the Bison (PSU shot 11-for-23 for 48% from the field compared to Bucknell's 10-for-28 for 36%). The defense however, showed significant improvement from the last two games, holding the Bison to just 3-for-6 from downtown. The second half began with Julian Moore slamming it home but Bucknell would continue to hang around and ultimately, would push the lead up to 8 points as the Bison caught fire and PSU went cold. To say that things looked bleak with about five and a half minutes

http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2015/11/14/9735348/penn-state-vmi-basketball-2015-final-score-josh-reaves-shep-garner-pat-chambers-dan-earl By Tim Aydin @happyhourvalley on Nov 14, 2015, 3:45p This was not your ordinary sleepy Penn State basketball season opener, given that former star point guard and assistant coach Danny Earl was making his head coaching debut on the visitors' bench for VMI. The game started off with a bang as highly-touted freshman Josh Reaves, making not only his debut in collegiate basketball but also making his debut as a starter , stole a pass on VMI's opening possession and slammed it home to open up the scoring. Unfortunately, this did not spark a hot shooting start for PSU, while VMI started out hot, nailing 7 of their first 15 shots from the field and found themselves leading by as many as eight points (12-4) early on. Coach Pat Chambers' crew however, gradually picked up the defensive tenacity and the shots began to fall on offense,