Penn State Basketball Stock Report
Following an impressive win against Northwestern, Penn State may finally be righting the ship that could lead to a successful Big Ten campaign going forward. Certain players have a played a big role in the development of the team and will be key players going forward. Others still need to figure things out and will have to keep working in order to be a contributor toward this Penn State team.
Stock Up: Brandon Taylor
Following an already impressive 21-point performance against Purdue, Brandon Taylor came out against Northwestern and contributed 19 points alongside seven rebounds and four assists. But that is nothing new for Taylor, as he has been the offensive leader for the Nittany Lions throughout the year. The bigger contribution from the senior is his leadership, as he has helped this young team deal with some disappointing losses and not letting them get off track. Coach Pat Chambers in his postgame interview touched on the senior’s willingness to play at the three and how that has helped the rest of the team. For Penn State to grab more victories in the Big Ten however, the New Jersey native will have to continue to be a leader both on and off the court.
Stock Up: Donovan Jack
The other player since Purdue who has been the secondary contributor has been fellow senior Donovan Jack. Jack against Northwestern had 14 points, but more importantly nine rebounds, which was a spot the Nittany Lions needed to improve on coming off of the Purdue contest. The senior has provided a needed spark off the bench and is yet another example of a senior accepting his role. Although he does come off the bench, the Reading native has not let that affect his play and continues to contribute. If Jack continues with play as he has in the last two games, Coach Chambers may have found a one-two punch in Taylor and Jack off the bench.
Stock Down: Josh Reaves
After being inactive for the past two games due to illness, Josh Reaves has gotten off to a very slow start to begin his college career. That does not bode well for a freshman who was a top 100 recruit coming into college. Reaves has the potential, but the key now for him is putting in the work to fully tap into his potential and become the player Chambers thought he was getting.
David Arroyo is a freshman majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact him, email arroyodavid01@gmail.com.
