June 20, 2013
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA.; JUNE 20, 2013 - Penn State coach Patrick Chambers announced today that 7-0, 240-pound center Jordan Dickerson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) has signed a financial aid agreement and enrolled in the University. He will join the Nittany Lion basketball program at the start of the second University academic summer session, which begins June 26. Dickerson is transferring to Penn State after playing one season at Southern Methodist University and will have three years of eligibility remaining after sitting out the 2013-14 season in accordance with NCAA transfer rules.
"Jordan brings tremendous size, athleticism and a great work ethic to our program," Penn State coach Patrick Chambers said. "He'll have a redshirt season this coming year in which he will make significant strides in his development and will help prepare our team for the upcoming season. "
At 7-0 tall, Dickerson is the tallest player on the Penn State roster since 7-0 forward Jan Jagla (2002-04). He will join a Penn State frontcourt that also features 6-10 freshman Julian Moore (Fort Washington, Pa.), 6-9 sophomore Donovon Jack (Reading, Pa.), 6-9 senior Alan Wisniewski (Sterling Heights, Mich.), 6-7 sophomore Brandon Taylor (Tabernacle, N.J.), 6-6 junior Ross Travis (Chaska, Minn.), 6-6 freshman Payton Banks (Orange, Calif.) and 6-5 senior Kevin Onyeaka (Harrisburg, Pa.).
Dickerson played in 26 games for the Mustangs last year as a true-freshman and posted 13 points, 23 rebounds and nine blocks in a total of 92 minutes (3.5 mpg).
The Brooklyn native played his senior prep season at the IMG Academy in Florida where he posted 10 points, eight rebounds and four blocks per game for a team that went 28-2. Prior to his season at IMG, he played at traditional New York City area power Abraham Lincoln High School in Brooklyn. He posted eight points, seven rebounds and seven blocks per game as a senior on a team that went 28-3 and finished ranked in the top 50 of the nation.
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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