Penn State is three quarters of the way through summer practices after an offseason full of roster turnover. So far, the Nittany Lions have officially added nine new players.<\/p>\n
With that change brings new faces into Penn State\u2019s practice gym, and Mike Rhoades mentioned three players who\u2019ve stuck out to him during a recent press conference via a Zoom call.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s who Rhoades named, in order.<\/p>\n
Roberts Blums<\/p>\n
Not only did Rhoades mention Davidson transfer Roberts Blums first, he also doubled down on it at the end of his answer by saying Blums \u201cwould be at the top of that list.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe’s just my type of guy,\u201d Rhoades said. \u201cHe’s my type of guard. He’s just super competitive, works so hard, so into it. I knew he was a good player coming from a good program like Davidson.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blums helped fill two of the Nittany Lions\u2019 main needs this offseason: experience and 3-point shooting. He played in 63 games through his first two collegiate years at Davidson, where he shot 40.7% from 3-point range last season.<\/p>\n
The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder is projected starter at shooting guard for Penn State this upcoming season. He\u2019s received other offseason recognition, as after Week 1 of summer practices, he was the Wild Lion of the Week, a weekly team award given out to the player who exhibits the most effort.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe can make plays,\u201d Rhoades said. \u201cHe knows how to. He plays super hard, he’s about the right stuff, he’s a great voice in practice. I’ve been really pleased with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas Allard<\/p>\n
Guard Thomas Allard is making a significant jump in competition from the Division II level to the Big Ten, but he still got a mention from Rhoades.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe’s a guy that’s probably played 120 college games under his belt,\u201d Rhoades said. \u201cHe can dribble, shoot and pass at a high level. He gets it. He knows how to play the right way. I’ve been really, really fired up with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Allard is heading into his final year of eligibility after spending last season at the University of Alabama-Huntsville, and three years before that at Lincoln Memorial University. Having that amount of collegiate experience is seemingly helping him with the Nittany Lions, and he has size for a guard at 6-foot-7 and 210 pounds.<\/p>\n
The Suwanee, Georgia, native averaged 13.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while making 32 starts en route to Alabama-Huntsville\u2019s appearance in the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 last season. Allard, who was the Wild Lion of the Week during Week 4 of summer practices, could provide solid depth behind Blums at shooting guard for Penn State.<\/p>\n
Dasonte Bowen<\/p>\n
Even after adding Central Connecticut State transfer Jay Rodgers, Penn State still needed another point guard this offseason. Rhoades then found one in St. Bonaventure transfer Dasonte Bowen, who was a late addition by signing during Week 2 of summer practices.<\/p>\n
\u201cDasonte showed up, had to wait till all his medical testing, and then by the second day he was here, (he started) making an impact, making an impact on the team,\u201d Rhoades said.<\/p>\n
Bowen, who averaged 10.9 points and 4.8 assists per game last season, is another experienced guard for Rhoades. He\u2019s going into his fifth season, and he started his career in the Big Ten at Iowa.<\/p>\n
Rodgers was presumed to be the starting point guard when he transferred to the Nittany Lions in April. However, Bowen, who was the Wild Lion of the Week after Week 5 and 6 of summer practices, seems to be making a push for the job.<\/p>\n
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