Get to know Penn State men’s basketball’s highest-ranked recruiting class of all-time
Penn State didn’t make any promises to recruits in its 2021 men’s basketball class. The Nittany Lions sought players who would earn their keep and work toward their goals rather than have them handed to them, according to director of recruiting Brian Snow.
With one exception.
“I think we made only one promise during the recruiting process and that was to Kebba (Njie),” Snow said at the team’s National Signing Day event on Thursday. “It was (associate head coach Adam Fisher) saying he would jump on his desk and celebrate and send him the video if he committed. Which he did do, for the record.”
Fisher is the coach with the most experience at Penn State, having served as a student manager and graduate manager in the four years he spent earning his degree from 2003-06 and then returning in 2011 to serve as video coordinator and then director of player development within the program.
Despite his experience within the university, Fisher said he didn’t have to take control of explaining how special Penn State was to him.
“(Penn State head coach Micah Shrewsberry) was the point guy on all these guys,” Fisher said. “I think when he got here on Day 1, he saw it. He saw the community. ... I think he saw that quickly.”
Penn State’s tactics on the recruiting trail led to a five-man signing class that will be the first freshman class in new head coach Micah Shrewsberry’s tenure.
The group is filled with versatility, a staple Shrewsberry wants to be the case in every class he brings in moving forward.
More importantly, it has the leadership that can help shape the program moving forward. Evan Mahaffey, a wing from Cincinnati, is the type of player the staff expects to have a big impact in setting that tone on and off the court.
“Before he’s done here he might actually be the mayor of State College while playing for us,” assistant coach Mike Farrelly said. “He just has an unbelievable personality. Great kid, somebody you want to be around, is a natural leader. People, not just associated with the basketball program, but Penn State, the campus overall, are going to know who Evan Mahaffey is and love Evan Mahaffey.”
Here’s everything you need to know about Shrewsberry’s first incoming freshman class at Penn State, the highest-ranked by recruiting services (No. 16 on ESPN, No. 22 on 247Sports, No. 28 on Rivals) in Penn State men’s basketball history.
G Jameel Brown, Haverford School/Westtown, Philadelphia, Pa.
Ranking (247Sports Composite)
No. 124 in the country, No. 19 combo guard, No. 5 in Pennsylvania
Scouting report (Penn State associate head coach Adam Fisher)
“When he enters the gym, he’s ready to shoot. That’s the first thing you see in a lot of (his) clips. ... He’s got deep NBA range, he’s got a great feel for the game. His ability to read the defense, when to pull-up, catch-and-shoot, he’s always ready. ... He’s gonna be a guy that you have to guard out there, and that’ll free him up for his ability to drive the basketball. A lot of people think of him as a great three-point shooter, he also has a great ability to get into the paint and create for himself and create for others.”
Quotable
Fisher: “He’s a basketball player. You’ll hear Coach Shrewsberry say that a lot, but that’s what Jameel Brown is, he is a basketball player, who is gonna come in right away and make an impact on this team.”
G Kanye Clary, Massanutten Military Academy, Virginia Beach, Va.
Ranking (247Sports Composite)
No. 226 in the country, No. 35 point guard, No. 7 in Virginia
Scouting report (Penn State assistant coach David “Aki” Collins)
“(He’s a) left-handed guard, really gets in the lane, attacks, can pull up and shoot. Can shoot from deep, can shoot from mid-range, can finish through contact. One thing he really is, is a great passer. He has phenomenal sight, can makes passes in tight windows, sees the entire court and really, really wants to compete and get after it defensively.”
Quotable
Collins: “(He’s) undersized, tough, plays with a chip on his shoulder. And what you’ll see about this kid, he’s very competitive. He doesn’t like to be overlooked, doesn’t like to feel like he’s not the best player on the floor. He’s gonna give you everything he has to give. He’s a natural leader.”
C Demetrius Lilley, Lower Merion, Philadelphia, Pa.
Ranking (247Sports Composite)
No. 289 in the country, No. 42 center, No. 7 in Pennsylvania
Scouting report (Penn State assistant coach Mike Farrelly)
“First and foremost, a really good post scorer. ... Somebody that guys are gonna have to bring double teams and bring help on because he’s a guy that’s gonna be able to do some work down there. ... He’s really increased his athleticism. I think it’s gonna be a part of his growth and development here. ... Great hands around the rim, finisher who finishes everything.”
Quotable
Farrelly: “Most affectionately known as ‘Big Meech,’ when we started recruiting him he was ‘Big Meech’ but now he’s more like ‘Medium Meech.’ He lost a bunch of weight this summer. He chose not to play AAU and to work on his body, waking up every morning at 5 a.m. and working out. ... He’s done a great job really working, getting himself into shape.”
G/F Evan Mahaffey, Archbishop Moeller, Cincinnati, Ohio
Ranking (247Sports Composite)
No. 213 in the country, No. 46 small forward, No. 5 in Ohio
Scouting report (Farrelly)
“Uses length to block shots, can run, can really really move, can guard different guys. He’s going to be a weapon for us defensively because of his ability to guard many different positions. ... Almost a seven-foot wingspan. ... Unbelievable passer. ... Somebody that guys are gonna want to play with because he makes other people better. Driver, great vision, sees, knows the game, really, really well. ... He’s gonna be a primary ball handler at times, he’s gonna be a finisher, he can score inside and out.”
Quotable
Farrelly: “I think we have a group of awesome kids that are coming into this program. For me, Evan takes the cake with that. Before he’s done here he might actually be the mayor of State College while playing for us. He just has an unbelievable personality. Great kid, somebody you want to be around, is a natural leader. People, not just associated with the basketball program, but Penn State, the campus overall, are going to know who Evan Mahaffey is and love Evan Mahaffey.”
C Kebba Njie, La Lumiere (Ind.), Centerville, Ohio,
Ranking (247Sports Composite)
No. 97 in the country, No. 16 center, No. 4 in Indiana
Scouting report (Collins)
“He really talks a lot on the defensive end. ... He can finish in traffic, has really good hands, runs the floor well, can shoot step-back threes, can drive it from the perimeter. He has the entire package. It’s just getting some consistency and learning who he is as a player will be key to his development.”
Quotable
Collins: “I’ve told him this, he probably has 10 things he does really really well. Problem is, he tries to do all 10 of those things at one time. When he starts to streamline it a little bit and kind of figure out where his bread and butter is, he’s going to be a talented, talented player.”
