Penn State Set To Recognize Seven Seniors on Friday Night
It’s a big night inside the Bryce Jordan Center as seven seniors will be honored for their careers at Penn state.
Those seniors are John Harrar, Myles Dread, Sam Sessoms, Jalen Pickett, Jaheem Cornwall, Greg Lee and Jalanni White.
While there are many seniors on this team, Harrar and Dread are the only two who have been at Penn State their entire careers. The remaining players have all transferred before the start except Sessoms who transferred in from Binghamton a season before.
“We threw a group together in a short amount of time. We got personalities that match pretty well. These guys get along with each other,” coach Micah Shrewsberry said on Wednesday.
Pickett, Dread, and Sessoms are the only three players who are eligible to return for another year of college basketball being the three true seniors on the roster. The NCAA grants players a waiver to play another season who experienced the COVID-19 season last year.
The group together is the oldest power five team in the nation with the average age being just under 22. Together the group has combined 7,320 career points.
Shrewsberry talked about what these guys mean to him, despite only being with them for a year.
“I don’t care how long they are here. They put their trust and faith in me, they got me forever. You go through good times and bad times together. It creates lifelong friendships. No matter if you were here one year or five years, those are people you will go back to,” Shrewsberry said.
Senior leader Harrar experienced senior night last year, but he says this one will be more memorable being his final sendoff as a Nittany Lion.
“Having the people that made the Bryce Jordan Center, the Bryce Jordan Center over the past couple of years, it kind of changes things. I get to share my appreciation with everyone. I plan to be at the BJC for a good 16 hours that day,” Harrar said.
Shrewsberry has only worked with the king of Delco County for a season but believes that he is the foundation of Penn State’s culture for years to come.
“The hard work that he puts in every single day with no complaint. When you play as hard as possible for five years, you are going to be hurting. There are days when he is hurting,” Shrewsberry said.
Harrar has developed his game greatly since originally coming to Penn State. He started the last eight games of his freshman year in a season where he averaged 1.6 points and 2.1 rebounds a game. This year he is averaging 10.7 points and 9.8 rebounds.
“He was a huge reason for where this culture is going. He may not reap the benefits, but it all started with John. He does it all with a smile on his face, never a complaint at all,” Shrewsberry said.
Not known to be a shooter, Harrar has attempted only three treys his entire career and has yet to attempt one this season. Shrewsberry wants him to attempt one this weekend and says that he has seen him make them.
“I might let one fly. Anything can happen. It’s coming to March, and anything can happen in March,” Harrar said.
There’s no argument that Harrar has made a positive impact on Penn State both on and off the court. When he officially graduates from Penn State, the entire community will miss him.
“He’s blessed my life not just from a basketball perspective. He brings positive joy and energy. John is an energy raiser when he walks into a room the energy goes up,” Shrewsberry said.
Austin Groft is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism, to contact him email atg5271@psu.edu
