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Penn State

Kanye Clary finds fit, optimism for Penn State future

nate-mug-10.12.14by: Nate Bauer07/13/23NateBauerBWI
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Penn State guard Kanye Clary at practice on Tuesday. (Photo by Steve Manuel)

Kanye Clary absorbed the news of Micah Shrewsberry’s exit from Penn State to Notre Dame with positivity. Meeting with the media this week for the first time since deciding in April, the sophomore guard said doing so allowed for some perspective on the situation.

Coming out of a debut season as a Nittany Lion in which he’d helped propel the program to new heights, the proposition for his future was straightforward. Finding the right fit for his skillset became paramount and, with complimentary feedback about new head coach Mike Rhoades and his staff helping to round out his judgment, the decision became clear.

“I just tried to just look at it as a positive and just see what the new coaches could offer,” Clary said. “I just weighed my options to see how they wanted me to fit in with their team and what they thought of me. And I got some good reviews, so that’s what led me to stay.”

Scouting Kanye Clary

Penn State is thrilled that Clary did.

Announcing his decision on April 13, the second-year player became the third Nittany Lion to publicly commit to the program. It came after Ace Baldwin and Nick Kern’s announcements just a few days prior. And, it served as a major boost to the identity Rhoades is determined to establish at the Bryce Jordan Center. 

Described as “super competitive”, with leadership qualities, Clary’s presence became one Rhoades and the Nittany Lion could continue to build around both on and off the court.

“I think he and Ace, the way they can push the ball and create tempo. The way they can guard. And we’ll play them both together as well,” Rhoades said this spring. “I am excited about him.”

Finding a fit

The feeling is mutual as Clary looks toward the future as a Nittany Lion. 

Reflecting on the recruiting process, in which Rhoades and his staff pursued the Class of 2022 product, and what he’d learned of the VCU program under Rhoades, Clary said that he saw characteristics of his game sharing qualities with those of the Rams.

“VCU is always a gritty team, scrappy, plays fast, pushes tempo. And I feel like I’m a fast type of guard,” he said. “So I fit in, I think.”

Last season that took shape as an escalating role for Clary with the Nittany Lions.

Initially, he appeared sparingly through the nonconference schedule. But, Clary emerged as a double-digit minute contributor during the program’s late-season run to the Big Ten Tournament final and the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. Highlighted by his 12 points in a crucial, season-saving win over Illinois on Valentine’s Day, and his 11 points in the BTT semifinal win over Northwestern, Clary said the experiences were valuable.

“I think last season, I definitely got better as the year went on,” Clary said. “I got comfortable, especially in the Big Ten, to know how I fit in. And I know what’s my role and what type of player I could be. So, I’m really looking forward to this year.”

Next steps for Kanye Clary

How that plays out is yet to be determined. But, Clary is optimistic about the impact he can make on the Nittany Lions this season. In part, that’s thanks to the progress he’s made since the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

“They want to play in space this year. So, just how unpredictable I am,” Clary said. “I can get to the rim, I got a good mid-range jumper, and my three ball has been improving. I’ve been getting the reps in. That’s how I fit in.”

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