Penn State basketball: Micah Shrewsberry updates availability of forwards Jevonnie Scott, Greg Lee
Penn State men’s basketball coach Micah Shrewsberry offered some positive news on the player availability front on Monday.
Transfer forward Jevonnie Scott is now eligible to play. He’d previously been caught in some NCAA red tape surrounding his transfer process.
However, Scott may not see the floor right away. Facing a big week with Miami and Ohio State coming to the Bryce Jordan Center, Shrewsberry said the Nittany Lions will pick their spots as they look to integrate him into the rotation.
“These are hard games, right? He’s got to get his feet wet somehow, some way,” Shrewsberry said. “I don’t know if throwing him into the fire against LSU or Miami or Ohio State — whoever it might be, I don’t know if that’s the time to do it.
“When you miss so much time, you can’t just jump into it like everything’s going to be seamless or everything’s going to be great. You gotta build up to it.”
Scott spent his last two seasons at South Plains Junior College. Last season, he averaged 11.5 points and 5.6 rebounds in 20 minutes per game.
Listed at 6-foot-7, 252 pounds, Scott will provide the Nittany Lions with some much-needed size. He is one of only four players 6-foot-7 or taller on Penn State’s roster. Another, Greg Lee, has also not played yet this season, leaving a small Nittany Lions roster further depleted.
“Jevonnie is a really tough individual,” Penn State guard Jalen Pickett said. “Another big body for us. He can do a lot of different things. He can pass the ball, he can shoot it, but he’s also a very physical and athletic presence down low that we really would have needed against LSU to kind of help us out because they beat us up on the glass.
“I mean, we were playing four or five guards at a time, so we’re definitely looking forward to getting Jevonnie back.”
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Penn State forward Greg Lee closer to return
Western Michigan transfer big man Greg Lee is also hoping to return to the court before long.
Lee, who suffered a lower body injury before the season, was seen without the walking boot he’d been wearing for a few weeks at practice on Monday.
The 6-foot-9 forward figures to be a key piece of Penn State’s rotation when he does return.
Lee averaged 13 points and 7.2 rebounds per game last season in the MAC.
“I’m still waiting with Greg,” Shrewsberry said. “He’s got an appointment coming up here soon that will give us our next step. The last time, maybe two weeks ago, he was progressing and healing really well.
“He’s on track to come back. I don’t know when that will be.”
With a front court unit that is stretched quite thin at the moment, the Nittany Lions will hope both players are ready for game action soon.
