Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

Although the 2002-03 Penn State men’s basketball season was anything but victorious, many new beginnings are in store for next year’s player’s and coaches roster. For example, former coach Jerry Dunn is out of a job and new coach, Ed DeChellis has taken his position. Also, starting senior Brandon Watkins and fellow teammate, B.J. Vossekuil will not be returning to help lead the team to victory. Furthermore, starting forward Jan Jagla is rumored to be returning to his home town, Berlin, Germany, to play pro-ball. And leader of the Big Ten with a .901 free throw mark, Sharif Chambliss, has transferred to the University of Wisconsin to continue his playing career. However, with the help of new assistant coaches, Jeff Bower, James Johnson, and Hilliary Scott, head coach Ed DeChellis said that he only “…expects the best for next year.” DeChellis was a former assistant at Penn State for ten years. He returns to Happy Valley after a successful seven-year run as head coach at East Tennessee State University. He graduated from Penn State University in 1982 and is the fourth Penn State graduate to become a head coach for men’s basketball.
“I’m very excited about the opportunity to return to Penn State as the head basketball coach,” stated DeChellis as April 3rd’s press conference.
The Penn State men’s basketball season ended furiously with a 77-49 loss to Indiana five weeks ago. Although their 7-21 record has not been that impressive, returning stars such as Robert Summers, Aaron Johnson, Brandon Cameron, and Deforest Riley are looking forward to the 2003-04 season. Also, Tim Curley (head athletic director) said that it “is a very exciting time for the future of Penn State basketball!”
Also, on May 5, 2003, Penn State Nittany Lion basketball coach, Ed DeChellis, received a national letter of intent from New York City naming Marlon Smith the first player to sign with Penn State for the upcoming season. Smith is originally from Bronx, N.Y., and is a 6-0, 175 pound guard. Smith graduated from Archbishop Molloy High School, in Briarwood, N.Y. and averaged eighteen points per game, four assists per contest, five rebounds per game and three steals per contest.
As printed in the May 5, 2003 publication of the Penn State headlines, head coach Ed DeChellis says, “We are fortunate to have a young man the caliber of Marlon Smith decide to continue his academic and athletic careers at Penn State. He is a great guard who possesses quickness, strength and skill.”
Penn State is currently recovering from a 7-21 losing season with the addition of Marlon Smith and rebuilding with the bright futures of returning starters like Aaron Johnson, who averaged 7.5 rebounds per game, Deforest Riley whose free throw percentage averaged .900, and Robert Summers, who had a final field goal percentage of .506.

By Rick