Player Spotlight: Tim Frazier

Story posted November 8, 2013 in CommRadio, Sports by Maddie Brightman

Tim Frazier was back on the court last Sunday, against Northwood, for the first time since the superstar guard ruptured his Achilles tendon in 2012. Frazier entered his senior season with high expectations, after coming off a strong year two seasons ago, but was forced to stop early with a season ending injury, during the fourth game of the season.

During the first five minutes of Penn State’s game against Akron on November 13, Frazier tore the Achilles tendon in his left leg after coming off a high screen. He underwent surgery on November 20, and watched the rest of the season from the sidelines.

Despite his injury, Frazier continued to play an active role on the team, by being a motivator and a vocal leader. He worked alongside the coaching staff throughout the remainder of the season. His time off the court allowed him to become a better student of the game and prepare for his final season as a Nittany Lion.

The 6-foot 1, 170 pound, graduate student is a native of Houston, Texas. This past May, Frazier earned a degree in supply chain and information systems management from the Smeal College of Business and is currently pursing a second degree in communications.

While in high school, Frazier led his team to two district titles and was named MVP and All-Greater Houston Player of the Year in 2009. He was ranked by ESPN as the number thirteen point guard of 2009 and was listed as the number one recruit from Texas, during his senior year.

Frazier became an impact player at Penn State as soon as he put on a Nittany Lion uniform. During his freshman year, Frazier played in all 31 games and averaged over 18 minutes of play every game. At the end of the year, he finished second on the team with 23 steals and 73 assists. He scored 19 points in the post season and tallied three double-digit scoring games on the year.

During his sophomore year, Frazier started all but one game and was ranked third in Big Ten games, posting 5.5 assists per contest and second with a 2.36 assist-to-turnover ratio. He recorded 173 assists on the year (5th most in Penn State history), led the team with 35 steals, and completed his first double-double, in a victory against Northwestern. He tallied seven double-digit scoring games and was a predominant force in Penn State’s appearances in both the Big Ten Tournament Championship game and the NCAA Tournament. During Penn State’s 66-64 loss to Temple in the NCAA tournament, Frazier posted fifteen points, seven assists and five rebounds.

As a junior, Frazier led the nation accounting for 58% of Penn State’s offense, with 208 field goals and 198 assists. That year, Frazier became the sixth Nittany Lion to earn first-team All-Big Ten honors, and the first ever Penn Stater selected to the Big Ten All-Defensive team.

After having one of the best statistical seasons in Penn State history, Frazier was named as the John Lawther Team MVP and was a second- team NABC All-District pick. He was the first every Nittany Lion to lead the Big Ten in assists, and he ranked second in points per game during conference play with nineteen. After finishing the season first in assists and steals, second in minutes played, and third in free throw percentage, Frazier was 0.4 points away from a Big Ten scoring title.

That same year, Frazier became the first ever Nittany Lion to post at least 500 points, 150 assists, and 50 steals in one season. He was the fourth guard in Penn State basketball history to lead the team in rebounds, and he held the biggest improvement in Big Ten scoring average with more than twelve points per game.

Prior to his injury, Frazier was looked at as one of the top guards in the country. He currently stands 24th on Penn State’s all-time scoring charts with 1,035 points and sixth in assists, with 459. He will enter the season with over 20 games of 20 or more points and holds the Penn State season record with 192 assists.

Frazier is 142 assists shy of passing Freddie Barnes’ record of 600 career assists. With the 2013-2014 season under way, Frazier could finish his career as the second Nittany Lion to post 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists on their career and rank 5th among Penn Staters in scoring, assists and steals.

Maddie Brightman is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email mvb5601@psu.edu.