12 I Thursday, Nov; 11, 2010
Recruits
From Page 8.
guy. but like a Kevin McHale, kind of a face-up shoot
ing kind of kid.” DeChellis said. “Can run the floor,
can shoot the ball from the perimeter, can do stuff
around the basket."
DeChellis describes Alexis, a 6-foot-11, 250-pound
Wilkes-Barre native, as a “thick, strong guy.” ESPN
ranks him as the 51st best center in the nation.
“He's a tough kid," the coach said. “Very aggres
sive. and that's something we needed.”
Travis, a forward from Chaska, Minn., is a guy
DeChellis said can make plays and affect a game.
He is the highest-rated recruit in Penn State’s class
this year, receiving a three-star evaluation from
:kout.com. For Travis, who verbally committed to
Penn State in September, actually signing the letter
■ :f mtent on Wednesday was a major relief.
"It's just like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders
oecause it's what I've been working for and dream
;• e; (.1 doing since I was a little kid, and that’s signing
Division I for a big school for college basketball,”
Travis said I know its a school far away from where
; live, but when 1 got there. I felt that I could be com
•urtable there, with these players and these coaches,
i felt like it was a family."
Hounding out the group is Lewis, a 6-foot-l guard
ir»m Carfield Heights, Ohio.
He's a Scout.com two-star prospect, and can play
* ither guard position.
At his press conference. DeChellis described
■vvi•- as an "unbelievably vocal kid,” and the most
■rgetic player out of the four.
•Tr> ; 1 .evvis is a tremendous shooter, ball-handler,
d leader out there." the coach said. "A kid who can
■d a team "
’ a Chellis said in all, the coaching staff is “ecstat
(b'ust the four guys."
They ail bring something different to the table,"
said "But all very, very important to what we are
•v ma to do
To e man r eporter exkso49@psu.edu
Center
: e Washington said the Lions needed a taller
r i‘i compete with some other centers in the
),-(■ a lot of teams in our conference that
i.ruiiC really tall post players," Washington
> me ol the things we wanted to do was add
m Orr player that could combat that. That was the
•'tine we knew we needed."
• h>. I Van State coach referred specifically to
.1; I ;nun State's freshman Madison Williams and
dimse seta's redshirt freshman Amber Dvorak With
• eh standing 6-foot-7. they could pose a problem for
s • ] dons for the next four seasons.
Aside from the center's ability to match up with
nnouonts' size, Washington believes Waldner pos-
-s a high basketball IQ. The coach said Waldner
i- ijiiiek feet and moves very well.
ntse Waldner played with several skilled
-.•mmaies in high school. Washington doesn't
"•::cve the future Lion's offensive skills are fully
• >". cioped.
: ‘Tler offense is a little behind her defense at this
point because she's played on teams that have had
:v Mrong guard play," Washington said of
•Valdiier's high school team. "I think she has the
a ;e bo. (iefinitelv. an offensive threat for us once
here
ii' point. Washington said the Lions are still in
inning for some other recruits, but she isn’t
iv •.■.•'mi to expect in the coming days. Other than
■ ■!-h-r. >he 'aid Penn State has been putting some
h i! on a player who can play as both a point guard
loosing guard.
ni iw Washington is happy to have Waldner set
. for the Lions next season.
in just thrilled." Washington said. “She gets
I.v:l: so well with our players. She's just a really
■ od person and good kid. I think she's going to
hn\ e in the Penn State atmosphere.”
To e-mail reporter: rmlsl3B@psu.edu
Offense
is-d. They have four or five kids that can play for
; idy ton!' or five guys, that could go right into pro
nil vcrv good athletes."
;■ ottered high praise for this season's Ohio State
rise, specifically the front seven. That unit
rns defensive end Cameron Heyward, whose 11
kies and two sacks carried the Buckeyes to a 24-
>«•!'•!•%• in Beaver Stadium last vear.
tbyward has seen double teams this year and
i ik - eight lion the team in tackles, but the attention
if demands has afforded the rest of the defense
p : to maneuver. The Buckeyes have the confer
!,;■! ' top ranked defense, allowing 13.6 points per
!airing the Buckeyes' loss to Wisconsin, Patemo
aid. he thought the unit was subpar. But just as
! vrm State used a tough loss to Illinois to rejuvenate
t> offense, the Buckeyes defense responded follow
nn a defeat. Patemo said.
Auer that they got together." Paterno said. “And
il tei! you. they played really well the last couple of
■ill games."
In total. Paterno is 2-8 at Ohio State, with his
warns scoring an average of 9.2 points per contest.
They've only reached more than 10 points twice
:bt two victories.
Running back Evan Royster, who went for 77
ant' on 19 carries in the 2008 win, pointed to the
,ni>c of Ohio Stadium as one of the biggest reasons
! iv team would have troubles there.
■■They have a very loud crowd, and when you can’t
hear the snap count, you're late flying off the ball,"
Royster said. "That can hurt you as an offense, a lot
more than a lot of people think. That's one of those
things we really need to learn to deal with.”
Penn State's offense hasn't fared well in those
environments this season. The Lions dropped a pair
of 24-3 games in Alabama and lowa, where the
offense couldn't get going, especially in the red zone.
But since those games, the Lions have put up
more than 30 points three times. Senior guard
Stcfen Wisniewski realizes this challenge won’t be
easy but with the way quarterback Matt McGloin
lias led the offense in that time, he doesn’t think the
past will matter.
As far as why we haven’t done great there, I think
they're always a solid defense and always play well
against us." Wisniewski said. “I think maybe that’s
why we re not at our best. Now our O-Line is playing
weil. and McGloin is playing well. If we execute, we
can put points up.”
To e-mail reporter: ajcs23B@psu.edu
Tournament
From Page 8.
should have beat a team and you get
another shot at them, you obviously
want to beat them even more." Cost
said.
“The circumstances are already great
for us to just want to win. to come out
here with some enthusiasm and inten
sity and try to get the W"
Despite the game being played in the
afternoon, the players are hoping for a
strong student presence at the games.
In previous matches against Indiana.
Ohio State and then-No. 1 Akron, the
Freshman
From Page 8.
ball Hall of Fame, had at Cincinnati
“Roger was one of the great 8-point
shooters in the game." said Tony Yates.
Roger's coach at Cincinnati, who added
the 6-foot-5 shooting guard was one of
the best players he's ever coached "He
was a tremendous shooter. He had the
green light from me at all times"
It has been about 22 years since
Roger stepped off the conn for the last
time, and a new chapter in collegiate
athletics has begun for the McClendon
family. Deja. an outside hitter on the No.
8 Penn State women 1 -' volley ball team,
has emerged as one of the best Nitty ny
Lions as a mere freshman
Eleven weeks through the season,
the explosive fi-toot-i outside hitter is
second among all Nittanv Lions with
280 kills.
"She's a veiy happy, positive kid.'
Penn State coach Russ Poise said earii
er this season "Sic aiwav s has a smile
on her face and is iu-.i wonderful kid
to be around. You leei .jvoi !o have her
in your program '
But for longtime college oasketbal!
fans in Ohio who remember watching
Roger emerge as a Ircshman standout.
Deja's early success may not be as
much of a surprise. Roger was the
Bearcats' leading scorer in noi only his
freshman season, but m his first three
And the ways in -which Deia has fol
lowed in her father's luui.-teps in her
young career are extremely similar.
In fact, it's almost i)cja vu.
Simple modesty
There is a simple explanation as to
why Deja. her younger siMer and two
younger brothers dtdn'i iww about
their father's success iir awhile he
didn’t talk about it. Deia "till admits she
doesn't know the hill = -xi>
father's career
"Their dad is van mode-,
accomplishments>;n<
McClendon, Roger's taiher and Deja s
grandfather. "Bragging about himself
was never something that was a part of
his makeup, even as a >inmg high
school player and even
player.
Instead, John and his wife. Deborah,
have taken it upon themselves to
inform their grandchildren about the
family history. John recalled a tunc
when Deja’s brother. Marquis, saw a
clipping from a ]nBi; Sports Illustrated
article that highlighted tin nations top
shooters. The players feat tired w ere
shown in photo illustrations shooting a
ball from outer space. Roger's iilu't ra
tion shows him in the air in iron! nj the
moon, mid-shot, about |o ;vieaso the
ball.
"I remember Marquis said. AVouh. 1
didn't know that my dad was a basket
ball superstar.' " John McClendon
laughed.
Deja remembered another time
when a young fan asked her father for
his autograph while the family was at
King's Island, an amusement pai k near
Cincinnati.
"I was like. 'I don't unit-, i sland. why
do vou want mv daft's aulogrunh
Deja recalled with a wide -mD
But just because Ron r didn't talk
about his playing days, (joe-n't mean
they didn't have an influence on hi - chit
dren.
Deja. the oldest of tour, was imolved
in sports at a young age.
"I think the tact that his lite was
always centralized in -polls got me
started early with that mindset.'' Deja
said. "We'd play catch, things kind of
like boys do. We'd alwav-, be playing
sports, always trying new games
I* Toward Daylight
Pt CM TiD :1 !■ \ 111- ( ( run I OtlttD f hiipi ( I
In- lor mat tun oi ih> \rt ,m! I rumlditnn tor Sin- hit f’r < w ni ion
The State Theatre I
State College, PA I
November 14,1:00p.m. I
\ Him about suititit and sur\i\orship in (tniri (ousu\
Suh'idc is netfr tltc final word lor those left behind.
it alters liu s forncr and crosses all human Iwundarit s.
(X lL ■
DARKNPy J|
■■■.<• • \d courtcs> ol The Meadows
Stay up to date
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“The cirumstances are
already great for us.”
Lions enjoyed a loud, energetic student
section the players said lifted their
energy on the field.
Unlike regular season matches, all
Big Ten Tournament games required
paid entry, but Hertzog said the first i 00
students to the game will receive free
tickets.
Cost said he doesn't know what to
expect as far as crowd size but the scn-
She played sports so much, in fact,
that the first word to ever come out of
her mouth was ''ball."
Despite all of his feats, though. Roger
didn't force basketball upon Deja or her
siblings. Instead, he let his children irv
multiple sports and decide which one
stuck.
Deja. who was born in < 'ir.einn. ii and
lived there until her family ivloeated t
Lous\ille. Kv. u I;
played baskelhail briefly, but r dui:i
last past fifth eraoe Deia said she- hi; i
a pushy kind or person and didn't Id
the contaet
"It was
because he Imr- '■■'n
Anil ue i! >!;■ >■ ! a
shots, tn-e ti.os-
She played i \
including gynina.-t
and tennis v
actually her ht
nis up until -
for volleybai! be--
of a team spori a
She was pres s
Kventualh
irom competin'.i
Louisviiie :u
the Kent :n
Acodem;. ■K” A 'Me n >
needless te A, K.ei
All in the family
Tht similarity-'- 'i.-rm
Whettu’r ii - t
grrat jUiripiiia ai
nc'- 'lirri
Met 'tendon sn
granddauchio:
court that n"mud hoc
inti days on the ha: dvoni
it s aimo.'i
Mc(lendnn. u1:o
sor at Miehi-a;
wavs in uhich a
and quickness b
ball that we -cc
f ciholil liiS
o John
similar v-.ay a
Bui their
means i hi • oniv
ot the correlation'
American in in;'-! a!i
hiph school hask' .oa
cotie^e
vear. lnciuuui
Dunne 'Mann.'
Deia vw
American hen :
rest o! Ihi
sehooi \. ill
Plaver ol ilu
Times and tin- i
in f'hamoaig
time leaiting
Deja wa
DuPont Manuni 1 ligii A
"Champaign" in
the No. awn
his high seliooi
A red iiannei
volleyball jer-a
till- onh retired \..ilevb.:M
tiym at Dna'-' aim.! maPT
While at ( ':n< innaii. nne .>t !
most memorable penni'inanee.-
.January l The sherpshni
oti for po;nt> aaain-l hie <
marching hi> team a: me up-e.
tin’ cud of 1 lie >i';iv n.
Louisville fieieaiec! Duke a.
national title, t 'incimut: • aa,
Freedom Hail would turn nut a
Louisville s onlv honn : loss n! 'he
Deja helped led in
championship in 'inn;;
Drew Cost
silo was at:
- m >hr
>U4I
: i go ;iit>na with thot. Roger had one
■ nr remaining in his five-year eleetri
(!■■■-: ■.e and computer engineering pro
s' •• wain Roger's parents had always
emphasized the importance of academ
i|i 'fa ir einldren and Roger always
i e 'nd, tjgii ID heart.
iv!" leal'
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The Daily Collegian
ior hopes he is pleasantly surprised by
the tunrout.s
For Hertzog. the team's leading goal
scorer, he is hoping the tournament re
ignites his scoring touch.
The junior has gone four games with
out a goal, but won the 2009 Big Ten
Tournament Offensive Most Valuable
player.
T haven't scored in four games and
it 's hard as a striker because that’s your
job.'' Hertzog said. "But, I’m just trying
to finish in practice and put it out on the
field tomorrow and hopefully some go
in the back of the net."
To e-mail reporter: adrso79@psu.edu
Being back in that facility. Roger said,
"brought back memories."
Roger, who is third in Cincinnati his
mry in field goals made, said he sees a
lot of himself in Deja. athletically. The
most noticeable similarities, he said,
are her intense focus on the court, her
ability to make her teammates feel
relaxed with her constant smile, and
her explosiveness. Like him, Deja is
oRo m n team-oriented. Roger said.
I think most great players, if you
think about it. put the team ahead of
themselves." Roger said, adding that in
high school he was always a "pass first"
player That's a trait I think that Deja
■■ Þ."
The ‘ Student” athlete
Though Roger had a great collegiate
-.•areer. he never played in the NBA.
R.-ger the draft had recently been
■educ'd from seven rounds to three
>i his year was guard heavy. Roger
idl'd that he had just an "average"
-uor 'vasun.
Ahe- he wasn't drafted, he had a clif
hi: now o to make
id go o-.er and chase the NBA.
i 'ontmenlal Basketball
".on;, overseas professionally.
back and finish my engineer
•i o Roger said. .And that was
■ hole - ler me at the time. I put
;■ t-nergv into the engineering
■ iiai i wanted to finish it out."
_h Roger admits it was tough to
'.‘w ynorl In loved, the decision
< w.-i" for the long-term And it
vi ently promoted to
ili'y otticer for WM!
i't'staurant company
i.' Ki-V. Pizza Hut. Taco
aim Silver's. He travels
1," .uni i - res])onsible for reduc
azirnm-ieiital impact and how
tipany. Saved in Louisville, yrows
ja has be.-n raised on similar prin
■ as Hoeer. stressing the impor
a! ! he ''student'' part of the term
M'-(’lei,dons also value lamily
why Roger, along with his wife
a.- ,;;d d’.etr oilier three children
an-,ived in various spoils, has
■ ia-en numberofl’ennState
v: 1 : m.m-he.s. despite a busy
lie And in that short time, they
•a.!o'Si J 1 ieja's teammates.
e great \ allies, morals
ii;.’ I’oin Stale senior co-cap
in 'ih '-.- .i I/Krrico said. 'And they're
nielic side is a
ind that's something that obvious
here. 1 can't say any-
bad about their family because
e - Uaii incredible people.”
ieja's play has caught the eyes of
\\ people, as well
1! ![•= •u-.ih 14 Big Ton matches. I)eja is
loth m the conference. and first among
::v-kmt n. in kilK The potential for
i Van .shite to lui\e its second straight
is Tup Freshman of tlie Year, and
: Jbh in nine wars, are in no wav out
ivaim o! possibility
! >i ;,i. just like her lather is mod
■>Vhcu asked to describe the
a lengths and weakness of her game,
li i.i begun to ponder her many
mtth.' before she replied: “Let’s
-'..r! with the weaknesses.”
' tie apple doesn't fall too far from the
garter. jyksl42@psu.edu
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