Penn State lands in final nine for On3 Top 25 forward
Penn State men’s basketball is staying in it for On3’s No. 25-ranked prospect in the Class of 2023, Devin Royal. Announcing his final nine on Monday via Tweet, Devin Royal, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound power forward out of Pickerington, Ohio, has the Nittany Lions on his list.
Other schools listed by Royal included Alabama, Clemson, Marquette, Michigan, Miami, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Ole Miss. Per his tweet, the nine finalist schools were presented in alphabetical order.
Royal’s trimmed list comes toward the end of a summer evaluation period that has seen him shoot up recruiting boards across the country. New offers, on top of an already healthy list, included Virginia Tech, Illinois, Florida State, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Rutgers, Missouri, Miami, Clemson, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Michigan just this calendar year.
Penn State, however, was the first Power Five programs to offer Royal in July 2021 within months of head coach Micah Shrewsberry landing the job. More than a month passed before Kansas State became the second in late-August.
Devin Royal scout
On3 national scouting director Jamie Shaw offered this about Royal’s potential:
“Devin Royal has long arms and a strong frame. The 6-foot-6 forward is an advanced scorer with a great feel. He has touch and range off the catch from three. Royal moves well off the ball, finds the open space in the defense, has great balance, and is squared up at the basket. The foot speed may be a question and would like to see him rebound at a higher rate. He is a tweener forward, but his offensive feel would allow him to play either way. He is a bonafide top 100 talent.”
The assessment matches what Royal has perceived of his own talent and potential.
“I am very versatile,” Royal told On3. “If the coach needs me to do something, I can, and will, do it. Help my team win games. I have developed my body since the summer; built muscle, slimmed down on a meal plan, and worked out a lot. I watch a lot of Jayson Tatum, with the way he comes off screens and his footwork. I am trying to get like that.”
Penn State’s next steps
Royal has already been on Penn State’s campus for an official visit in March, adding to junior visits that also included Iowa and Marquette, as well as Michigan State later this spring.
Royal is and his Ohio Red teammates dropped an 84-63 decision to Team Durant on Sunday. They’ll return to action in the season-ending Nike EYBL Peach Jam on Tuesday when they face Mokan Elite at 6:30 p.m.
