Penn State men’s basketball announces 2022-23 captains
With less than a week until the tipoff of the NCAA men’s basketball regular season, Penn State officially announced its captains for 2022-23.
Head coach Micah Shrewsberry confirmed on Thursday morning that seniors Jalen Pickett, Seth Lundy, Andrew Funk and Myles Dread are the captains for the blue and white this season, crediting their abilities to “drive and enforce” the program’s culture.
“Jalen, Seth, Andrew and Myles have each been great leaders for our program throughout the summer and fall,” said Shrewsberry. “All four of them play an important role for our team this year and are very deserving of the captain title.”
Heading into his second season in Happy Valley, Pickett has had a significant impact on the program in a rather short amount of time. The former Siena College star led the Nittany Lions in scoring, assists, steals and minutes in 2021-22, and will now take on a larger leadership role in his last dance.
Speaking of quick impacts, Funk’s smooth transition this offseason from Bucknell to Big Ten hoops has been impressive, to say the very least. Since becoming a Nittany Lion in mid-April, the graduate transfer has received high praise for both his high motor and scoring abilities.
On the other hand, Lundy and Dread are battle-tested veterans for the blue and white, entering their fourth and fifth seasons with the team. Both players embody Shrewsberry’s hard-nosed style of coaching, displaying their grit on the court during the entirety of last season.
Lundy was a steady force for Penn State in 2021-22, starting in each of the Nittany Lions’ 30 games a season ago. His defensive prowess is renowned across the Big Ten, as he held his assignments to under 10 points per game a year ago.
Dread fought his way through injuries to a career year last season, shooting 40.7 percent from beyond the arc. With 117 career games under his belt, the fifth-year senior will certainly lead through experience as the longest-tenured member of the blue and white.
Shrewsberry’s second season as the coach of Penn State begins with a home showdown against Winthrop on November 7, as his Nittany Lions look to improve upon a 7-13 conference standing in 2021-22.
With an exciting core of dynamic players and a fearless foursome leading the way, a winning atmosphere could certainly equate to a winning record in Happy Valley this year.
Grant Sheets is a sophomore majoring in public relations. To contact him, please email gcs5231@psu.edu.