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N E W C O M E R S O F I N F L U E N C E ›› M E N ' S B A S K E T B A L L 3 TRUE FRESHMEN ALSO SET TO JOIN PSU BASKETBALL TEAM D.J. Newbill isn't the only new player set to suit up for the Nit- tany Lions this coming season. Coach Patrick Chambers received commitments from three addi- tional prospects in the Class of 2012. DONOVAN JACK Berks Catholic, Reading, Pa. Forward, 6-9, 205 CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Jack led his team to championships at the division, county and district level, earning All-State status three times in the process. The Saints finished the 2011-12 campaign with a 28-3 record, thanks in large part to Jack, who was named Berks Play- er of the Year by the Reading Ea- gle. He finished his career with 1,725 points, 10th-best in county history. AKOSA MADUEGBUNAM MEET THE PRESS Newbill garnered attention last year even though he was required to sit out in accordance with NCAA rules. the North Philadelphia native went through his own personal struggles. Meeting with Chambers two or three times a week, just to talk, Newbill man- aged to maintain his composure and keep his focus. "It was really tough. I was battling every day in practice with my team- mates, and then to not be able to go out there and compete on the court with them while they were having a rough season last year, it hurt," New- bill said. "But I just kept positive with it. It was a learning experience and it was a chance for me to work on my skills to help me as a player for this year when I can help the team. I just used it as a positive as much as I could." Having dealt with three transfer athletes at his previous head coach- ing stop in Boston, Chambers under- 22 J U N E 2 8 , 2 0 1 2 stood the emotional challenges New- bill would face. He knew how to rec- ognize the signs of trouble, and he helped Newbill battle through his struggles. "He understood what I was going through," Newbill said. "At first, it did- n't hit me so hard. But once it got to be around the Big Ten conference play and stuff like that, that's when it re- ally started to hit me. I got down a lit- tle bit, but I would go into his office and talk to him and he would pick me right back up. 'Next year you'll get out there, so use this year to keep work- ing real hard and remember to focus on getting ready for next year,' he would say." The motivational efforts didn't stop as the end of the season approached. Chambers moved Newbill onto the first team in practice alongside Frazier so Mark Selders that he could watch the two work to- gether and get a feel for what the fu- ture might be like. He wasn't disappointed. Said Chambers, "The way they played together, how unselfish they were and how they shared the ball and how committed they were to defend- ing and rebounding and just doing lit- tle things and the speed that they both have – it's exciting." Having learned about Chambers' "best backcourt in the country," com- ments via Twitter, Newbill seems to be equally enthused. "It's always good to know that your coach has a lot of confidence in you," he said. "It gives you that much more motivation to get that much better. Just to know that coach believes in you makes it that much easier to play for him." Winchendon School, Winchendon, Mass. Guard, 6-3, 185 CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Maduegbunam av- eraged 18 points, six rebounds and four assists per game as a senior and received honorable mention NEPSAC AAA status for his efforts. At Charlestown, his previous school, he averaged 22.3 points, eight rebounds and three assists, taking his team to the Boston City League championship and earning MVP honors. He was also named to the MIAA All-State team by ESPNBoston. BRANDON TAYLOR Trenton Catholic, Tabernacle, N.J. Forward, 6-8, 235 CAREER HIGHLIGHTS Taylor finished his senior season with 15.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game and was named the Times of Trenton Player of the Year for his efforts. He led his team to the NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public B cham- pionship game in back-to-back seasons. – N.B. W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M

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