Penn State hoops set to host On3 Top100 prospect on Sunday

On3 imageby:Nate Bauer02/26/23

NateBauerBWI

Royce Parham is coming back to Penn State’s campus. And, he’s picked the most critical game on the Nittany Lions’ slate to take in a game at the Bryce Jordan Center.

As confirmed with Parham, he’s set to make the trek from Pittsburgh to Penn State on Sunday. He’ll take in the Nittany Lions’ massive game against Rutgers. Penn State and Rutgers are set to tip at 6:30 p.m. at the BJC.

Ranked No. 63 in the On3 Consensus in the Class of 2024, with a No. 57 designation in the On3 in-house rankings, Parham has been a focal point of Penn State’s recruitment throughout the cycle. A 6-foot-9, 205-pound power forward out of North Hills in Pittsburgh, he’s been on campus twice since last spring, including an official visit in October.

From those visits, and his ongoing relationships with Micah Shrewsberry and assistant coach Adam Fisher, the Nittany Lions have emerged as one of the primary programs recruiting him the hardest.

“I have a really good relationship with Coach (Micah) Shrewsberry. I’ve been on campus a few times before this visit. And they have been to a couple of my games,” Parham told On3 analyst Jamie Shaw earlier this month. “The lead guy recruiting me is assistant coach Adam Fisher. My favorite part of the visit was when we went to the coach’s house and hung out with all the players.

“I see myself really fitting in with their style of play. I think it really fits my game, being an all-around player. They let you be free, and you’re not a robot with them. They are still recruiting me hard.”

Penn State recruitment of Royce Parham

The No. 3-ranked player in Pennsylvania in the 2024 cycle, and the No. 12-ranked power forward, Parham’s place at the top of Penn State’s board hasn’t diminished through his junior season. The son of former Lady Lion basketball player Kim (Calhoun) Parham, the relationship is one that has been steady throughout.

Now, he’ll return for the first time since his October official visit for Penn State football’s White Out game. On that trip, Parham and his parents, Kim and James, spent extensive time with the Nittany Lion coaching staff. They toured campus, and enjoyed a dinner hosted at Shrewsberry’s house. It followed with a breakfast on game day Saturday. Then they took in practice, and had meetings with athletic director Pat Kraft and nutritionist Nikki Jupe before catching the football game.

Parham has also taken official visits to Wisconsin, Notre Dame, and Marquette. He is also considering setting up an official visit to Xavier.

He said he doesn’t have a timeframe for making a decision. But, Parham did point to a key element in how he perceives the programs he’s visited.

“I look closely at the fan environment when I’m on my visits. I’ll pay attention to the campus and how the coaches coach, and how the players play,” Parham told Shaw. “I just want to be used in a way where I can fit the system and be a valuable player in the program.”

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