Thorpe bound for PSU
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New Penn State basketball coach Patrick Chambers called Geno Thorpe early Tuesday morning to wish Thorpe a happy birthday. But it was Chambers who got his wish -- a commitment from Thorpe.
Thorpe, a standout junior guard at Shaler High School, made a verbal commitment to Penn State. His other final choices were Wisconsin and Pitt. Both offered scholarships. He also had offers from Seton Hall, Rutgers and Kansas State, among others.
Thorpe decided a few weeks ago that he would commit to Penn State on his 17th birthday. Chambers called him at 6 a.m. before a Penn State practice.
"I guess you could say it was pretty much planned," Thorpe said.
While a cloud hangs over the Penn State football program over an alleged sexual abuse case involving former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, and, while many wonder what will happen to Penn State's football recruiting, the basketball program landed one of the top juniors in the state. Thorpe averaged 17 points a game as a sophomore at Shaler and was recruited to play point guard.
Thorpe said the Sandusky case "was something I obviously had to take into consideration that it was happening. But it really didn't affect my decision. It's sad to see, but it didn't stop my decision."
Chambers, in his first season as coach, started recruiting Thorpe in June.
"I took two unofficial visits there and I'm going to the Nebraska [football] game this weekend," Thorpe said. "I just love the campus, as well as the academics, and Pat Chambers is a really good coach. They're looking to turn the program around, and that's what I'm about."
Thorpe could have chosen a college known more for basketball, but Chambers is one of the main reasons he chose Penn State.
"With Pitt, I still love the Oakland Zoo and I'm still trying to get them to forgive me on Twitter," Thorpe said, with a laugh. "But I just made my decision because, at the end of the day, I just felt different about the way Penn State was recruiting me. I just felt better about Penn State and more comfortable."
First Published November 9, 2011 12:00 am
