Transfer Spotlight of the Day: Nick Kern Jr.
In addition to Ace Baldwin Jr., head coach Mike Rhoades was able to bring one other former VCU player with him in guard Nick Kern Jr.
He was a three-star transfer recruit per 247Sports and decided to join the Nittany Lions in a little under two weeks after entering the transfer portal.
A Saint Louis Missouri native, Kern Jr. comes to Happy Valley as a junior after playing 66 games in two seasons for Rhoades at VCU.
He carries a background of winning with him after a very successful high school career that ended with him and his Vashon High School team securing three state championships and four district titles.
His high-quality play earned him the Missouri Class 4 Player of the Year award as he averaged 18.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as a senior.
Despite his impressive numbers, Kern Jr. held just two Division 1 offers and ultimately chose VCU over Depaul for his collegiate career.
In his freshman year at VCU, Kern Jr. averaged 10.1 minutes per game in 31 games played throughout the season.
He found his footing a little bit more in his sophomore year with the Rams, starting the final 19 games of the season.
He averaged 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds in those games while shooting 62.0% from the floor and 66.7% in the games he started.
Kern Jr. comes to Penn State with a chip on his shoulder and a fire in his eyes as he looms to prove himself in the Power Five.
As of now, he owns collegiate totals of 246 points and 136 rebounds while shooting 54.5% from the field.
His role changes with the Nittany Lions as he will be relied on to help with the implementation of Rhoades’ scheme and style of play.
Kern Jr. now has a great opportunity to step up as a leader of the team and will look to carve out more playing time for himself.
The 6-foot-5-inch junior will strive to take a big leap in his career this season with a new program and a fresh start.
Thomas English is a second-year broadcast journalism major. To contact him, email tfe5082@psu.edu.
