Blue White Illustrated

M EN'S B A S K ETB A LL Changes aplenty at Penn State Second-leading scorer, associate head coach depart for new opportunities | T hough the Penn State men's basketball program usually uses the Coaches vs. Cancer golf tournament to announce its pressing news, coach Patrick Chambers pre-empted himself this year, discussing many of the off-season's hot topics during used his multiple stops along the Coaches Caravan tour. Beginning with the announced departure of Penn State's second-leading scorer from last season, two coaching changes and a planned exhibition tour through Europe in August, it's been a newsworthy spring. Jermaine Marshall to forgo final season Looking to better position himself to financially support his girlfriend and their young son, senior guard Jermaine Marshall announced that he would forgo his final season of eligibility to pursue a career in professional basketball overseas. "It was a very, very difficult decision just to try to move on with things and move on with my life," Marshall told reporters via teleconference. "But really, I know that my journey here at Penn State has been a long one. I love everything about Penn State. I love the coaches, I love my teammates, just the whole Penn State family from top to bottom. "It's a very hard decision, but in the last few weeks I started thinking about a decision and I just made a decision based on what's best for my family and my son, really. When it comes down to it, I feel like this is the best decision, and it's something I've got to live with." Marshall scored a career-high 15.3 points per game this past season, and he had been expected to make a major contribution this coming year alongside returning fifth-year senior point guard Tim Frazier and redshirt junior guard D.J. Newbill. But, eager to provide for his child, Marshall weighed his options in a back-and-forth with Chambers that lasted several weeks and ultimately decided to move forward with his career. Though disappointed to lose Marshall, Chambers wished his former player well as he gets set to try his hand at pro basketball. "I tried to give him the pros and cons of staying and the pros and cons of going," Chambers said. "I thought, as a head coach, that was my duty to try to help him in every way possible to give him the factual information to make a good decision for his future. Every week was different. I felt like one week he was coming back and another week he was going and another week he was coming back. "We expressed how much we wanted him to stay, but we also understand why he's making the decision." Marshall finished his career at Penn State with 880 points and 108 3-pointers in 47 starts. He is scheduled to graduate this summer. State's associate head coach, the team's highest assistant coaching position under Chambers. He takes more than 16 seasons of coaching experience – including two seasons at Penn State – back to Marist, where he spent four seasons as an assistant from 2000-04. "I'm pleased to be able to add Eugene to our staff," Bower said in a news release. "He brings a great deal of experience at institutions that combine high academic standards in a highly competitive environment. His experience in the Big Ten and Patriot League, and his understanding of Marist College from his past experience, give him a well-rounded perspective. "His playing experience at Richmond and NCAA tournament success as a player provide role-model opportunities for our current players." For the past two seasons, Burroughs was a critical member of Chambers' inner circle. He helped coordinate the staff, took care of primary recruiting responsibilities and represented the program in media appearances. In other staff news, Adam Fisher, the team's video coordinator, has accepted a position as director of basketball operations at the University of Miami, where he will report to head coach Jim Larranaga. Nittany Lions to take Bower, Fisher accept new positions European road trip Marist College announced May 20 that Eugene Burroughs had joined its staff as an assistant to new head coach Jeff Bower. Burroughs had been Penn Determined to make strides this coming season, Chambers is taking the Nittany Lions on a European tour in August, with stops in Belgium, England and France.

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