Garner Contributing Right Away as Freshman
The Penn State men’s basketball team is off to a strong start this season getting out of the gates with a 4-1 record. Those four wins come in large part to their starting backcourt, which consists of senior captain leader D.J. Newbill and true freshman guard Shep Garner.
Last season, Penn State made the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) and hasn’t made the NCAA tournament since 2011.
Garner’s scoring ability and consistency alongside Newbill will perhaps help the Nittany Lions turn the program’s recent troubles around and return to the Big Dance. Through five games, Garner is averaging nearly 13 points per, while shooting 46 percent from behind the arc making 13 of his 28 attempts.
On Sunday when the Nittany Lions picked up their fourth win of the young season, Garner attempted six of his seven shots from distance, burying four three pointers for 12 of his 13 points. He similarly performed in the second game of the season against Fordham attempting eight long balls and connecting on four of them for all 12 of his points.
Garner is a scrappy, feisty player in college just as he was in high school.
He quickly became a leader as soon as he stepped foot in Roman Catholic High School. Walking into a storied program that boasts numerous NBA players, Shep learned the ropes from guys like Rakeem Brookins (current Sienna guard), who had been through the pressures and tradition that Garner was about to endure playing at Roman Catholic.
Garner had a teammate go to go through the growing pains with him every step of the way. Rashaan London, who now plays at Drexel University, was along side Garner from the moment they were thrust into the lineup as freshmen.
In their first year, pressure was applied immediately. It’s difficult to walk into a place like Roman Catholic and be touted as the big things. Garner and London leaned on each other in time of need.
These two were four-year starters together. London was more of the conservative type of player, while Garner was more of the showmen type. Garner played with flare and style, which often found him a seat on the bench.
In his Nittany Lion debut, Garner was put on the bench and as he walked off the court, coach Pat Chambers simply said “slow down.”
Going into his senior year at Roman Catholic, Garner was the undisputed leader of the team and relished the opportunity because of the guys who had the role before him.
To become a household name at a place that has produced talents like Marvin Harrison, Maalik Wayns and current Notre Dame football standout Will Fuller is no small task. Garner was a three-time All-Catholic League and All-State selection. He eclipsed the 1,000-career point mark and averaged just less than 16 points per game for his career.
The only thing missing from Garner’s high school résumé is a Philadelphia Catholic championship. With that now not a possibility, Garner now shifts his attention to the next career goal: getting to the Big Dance.
(Photo credit: AP Photo/Mic Smith)
Chris Gamble is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email cgamble531@gmail.com.
