Nov. 9, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA.; Nov. 9, 2011 - Penn State basketball coach Patrick Chambers welcomed his second addition to the Nittany Lion program Wednesday when 6-8, 235-pound forward Brandon Taylor (Tabernacle, N.J.) signed a National Letter of Intent to play for Penn State on the first day of the NCAA Early Signing Period. Taylor will join 6-4 Philadelphia guard D.J. Newbill, who transferred to Penn State from Southern Mississippi in August and is sitting out the current season under NCAA rules, as Chambers' first two additions that will compete for Penn State in 2012-13.
"Brandon is a great kid who comes from a great family and is serious about his academics and getting his degree," Chambers said. "Basketball wise, he is a terrific player who can post-up, shoot threes, has a very high basketball IQ and has a Big Ten ready body. He will make an immediate impact in our program."
Taylor helped lead his AAU squad, Team Philly, to several tournament titles over the summer and saw his stock rise as he diversified his game and excelled in several head-to-head battles with other high Division I recruits. His size and strength on the block as well as his ability to stretch defenses on the perimeter and score off the dribble or from the three-point line were on display. He is described as a "prototypical mismatch problem" with "the physical tools and basketball skills to score both inside and out" by ESPN.com. Dave Telep of ESPN.com added, "Penn State has itself a legitimate scoring option on its way to Happy Valley."
Taylor helped Trenton Catholic Academy (N.J.) to a 2010 New Jersey Non-Public B State Championship with a victory over perennial powerhouse St. Anthony and an eventual championship crown in the NJSIAA (all classes) Tournament of Champions as a sophomore. He averaged 11.7 points per game last year as a junior at Trenton Catholic as he helped lead the team to a 19-6 record. The Iron Mikes fell in the semifinals of the NJSIAA Non-Public South B Tournament in a two-point game in which Taylor recorded 14 points and had 15 rebounds. He posted a season high 25 points earlier in the year in a victory over West Windsor South.
Penn State will open Chamber's first season at Penn State Saturday with a 4:30 p.m. tip vs. Hartford at the Bryce Jordan Center. The game will feature free admission for all fans and is part of a first-ever double-header with the football team, which faces Nebraska at noon in Beaver Stadium.
Season tickets for Nittany Lion Basketball are $200 for adults, $170 for faculty/staff and seniors, $80 for youth (18 and under) and $59 for students. PNC Flex Books are also available again this year for $99. The Flex Book gives fans 12 vouchers, 10 that can be redeemed in any combination for Nittany Lion and Lady Lion Basketball tickets throughout the year and two extra vouchers for the Nittany Lions' Coaches Vs. Cancer game on Feb. 11 vs. Nebraska and the Lady Lions' Think Pink game on Feb. 26 vs. Minnesota.
Nittany Lion Basketball single-game tickets or group tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-NITTANY, visiting GoPSUsports.com or through Ticketmaster. Single-game tickets are $18 for the lower bowl and $15 for upper level tickets for adults. Youth tickets (18 and under) are $7 for the lower bowl and $5 for upper level seating, while Penn State student tickets (University Park or branch campus) are $5. Penn State also offers special basketball group ticket rates for groups of 15 fans or more. Nittany Lion group rates are $10 for adults and $5 for youth.
For all the latest information, notes, pictures and related links on Penn State basketball follow Associate Athletic Communications Director Brian Siegrist on Twitter (@PSUSTRETCH) and check GoPSUsports.com. The Nittany Lions are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pennstatebasketball.
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