UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Hours before new coach Micah Shrewsberry made his debut, Penn State signed the highest-rated basketball recruiting class in program history today, with five prospects making it official through their letters of intent.
The Nittany Lions have the No. 16 recruiting class in the country, according to ESPN. They are 21st in the 247Sports rankings and 27th in the Rivals rankings.
This class includes the second-highest rated recruit to sign with Penn State, center Kebba Njie, as well as the fifth-highest recruit, guard Jameel Brown. That's according to the 247Sports database, which ranks Tony Carr as the highest-rated recruit to sign with the Lions during the modern era of recruiting rankings.
Here's a breakdown of Penn State's five commits, from the university release:
KEBBA NJIE
6-9 Forward, Centerville, Ohio (La Lumiere, Indy Heat)
ESPN Top 100 recruit (No. 79). First ESPN Top 100 commitment for Penn State since Tony Carr in 2016. ... No. 2 highest-ranked commitment in the history of Penn State basketball (247Sports Composite Ranking). ... Consensus 4-star recruit, Top 150 recruit according to Rivals (No. 147), No. 15 power forward in country according to Rivals.
Shrewsberry on Njie: "One of the players that I specifically wanted to see during the month of July was Kebba. I have great respect for both his high school and AAU coaches, and they all had great things to say about him as a player and as a person. Given his age and size, we think he is ready to make a major contribution right away, while also having a very bright future down the road."
Why Kebba Chose Penn State: "I chose Penn State to pursue my dreams and goals. I wanted to go to a school where I could excel on the court and in the classroom, and I saw this opportunity in Penn State. My main goal is to be a lottery pick in the draft and play in the NBA while at the same time be able to run my businesses."
JAMEEL BROWN
6-4 Guard, Philadelphia (Haverford School/Westtown, Team Final).
Owns high school career statistics of 21.7 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists per game. ... A 247Sports Top 100 recruit (No. 90), he originally committed to Purdue when Shrewsberry was there as an assistant coach but decommitted after Shrewsberry left for Penn State.
Shrewsberry on Brown: "Jameel is someone that I have known and recruited for a long time. He is a tremendous player, but he is an even better person off the court. Jameel comes in and immediately boosts our outside shooting, while also possessing the ability to make others better with his passing. Landing a commitment from Jameel should have a major long-term impact for our program."
Why Jameel Chose Penn State: "My parents preach education first and Penn State is a great academic school. I also have a great relationship with the coaching staff. Coach Shrewsberry, Coach Fisher and I have built a great relationship these past couple of months. Obviously the Big Ten is one of the best conferences in the country and you want to play against the best every day. Their vision for me and the program really stood out."
KANYE CLARY
6-0 Guard, Virginia Beach, Va. (Massanutten Military Academy, Boo Williams)
ESPN 4-star recruit who ranks as the No. 38 point guard in the country. ... Three-star prospect according to Rivals and 247Sports. ... Is the No. 18 commitment in the history of Penn State basketball per 247Sports Composite.
Shrewsberry on Clary: "I was very excited when Kanye committed to us at the beginning of June. He is someone who can break down a defense with his speed. His ability to beat his man off the dribble in the half court and in transition puts the defense at a significant disadvantage, and his presence should make everyone on our roster better."
Why Kanye Chose Penn State: "I chose Penn state because of the combination of the education it offers and the high-level sports."
DEMETRIUS LILLEY
6-10 Forward, Philadelphia (Lower Merion, Philly Pride)
A consensus three-star recruit who is the No. 7 ranked prospect in the state of Pennsylvania per the 247Sports Composite. ... Averaged 22.2 points and 12.2 rebounds per game during junior season to become the first player at Lower Merion High School to average more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game since Kobe Bryant did so in 1996.
Shrewsberry on Lilley: "We couldn't be more excited to add Demetrius to our program. He is a player I scouted heavily during the month of June with his high school team, and I came away very impressed. He has the basketball IQ and size and skill to be a major factor for us going forward."
Why Demetrius Chose Penn State: "Penn State has a great atmosphere and coaching staff. When I am at Penn State, it feels like the right situation for me. The combination of academics and athletics, along with the family feel, led me to picking Penn State."
EVAN MAHAFFEY
6-7 Wing, Cincinnati (Archbishop Moeller, Indiana Elite)
Consensus three-star prospect according to 247Sports Composite Ranking. Is considered the No. 3 prospect in the state of Ohio per 247Sports. ... Helped lead Archbishop Moeller team to 46-6 combined record over last two seasons as well as a GCL Championship. Crusaders were 26-1 and ranked as the No. 1 team in the state of Ohio when 2020 season was cut short due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Shrewsberry on Mahaffey: "We are excited to add Evan Mahaffey to our program. He is not only a great player on the court, but he is also a tremendous person from a tremendous family. We have high expectations for Evan and what he can accomplish. He is already an elite passer with a developing jump shot, and with his ability on the defensive end as well as his intelligence, we believe Evan will be a great fit for our program."
Why Evan Chose Penn State: "I chose Penn State because of the opportunity I have to grow away from home and learn from the coaching staff. Also, I love the ability to grow from the connections available through Penn State."
