May 15, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA.; MAY 15, 2013 - Jermaine Marshall (Etters, Pa.), a junior on Penn State's 2012-13 men's basketball team, has decided to forgo his senior season of eligibility and will pursue a professional career after completing academic work that has him on schedule to earn his degree from the University following the completion of the second summer academic session.
Marshall, a human development and family studies major, was Penn State's second leading scorer and the sixth leading scorer in the Big Ten last season posting a career best 15.3 points per game. The 6-4, guard is in his fourth year with the program and has one season of eligibility remaining after redshirting his freshman season to recover from a knee injury suffered in his senior season of high school.
"Jermaine and I have had several discussions recently regarding his plans for the future and he feels strongly that graduating and entering the professional world at the conclusion of the summer is in the best interest of his son and his family," Penn State coach Patrick Chambers said. "We thank Jermaine for his contributions to our program and wish him the best of luck."
Marshall compiled 880 points and 108 three-pointers while playing in 90 career games and making 47 career starts at Penn State, including 30 starts last season. He led Penn State in three-pointers made the last two seasons, making a career best 59 in 2012-13, and led the team with 45 steals last year.
"I would like to thank my teammates, coaches and basketball staff as well as the faculty and fans of Penn State," Marshall said. "I truly enjoyed my four years at the University and learned a great deal from all of them. This is a difficult decision, but I want to provide for my son and feel the best decision for me and my family is to graduate and enter the professional world this summer."
Penn State will return three of its top five scorers and rebounders from 2012-13 and the top two returning scorers in the Big Ten in guards D.J. Newbill (Philadelphia, Pa.) and Tim Frazier (Houston, Texas) who will form one of the most potent backcourts in the nation. Newbill, a rising junior, earned honorable-mention All-Big Ten honors while finishing fifth in the conference in scoring posting 16.3 ppg last year. Frazier, a first-team All-Big Ten selection in 2012 after finishing second in the Big Ten posting 18.8 ppg, received a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA and a fifth season of eligibility after playing in just four games in 2012-13 after suffering an Achilles tendon injury. Rising junior forward Ross Travis (Chaska, Minn.) is the second leading returning rebounder in the Big Ten after finishing fifth in the conference last year (7.4 rpg). He posted double-doubles in three of his last seven games and will join rising sophomore Brandon Taylor (Tabernacle, N.J.), who made 32 threes in his freshman season, to anchor the frontcourt. Penn State posted a 10-21 record, but knocked of No. 4-ranked and eventual NCAA Tournament runner-up Michigan (84-78) in late February in Chambers' second season at the helm.
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