UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.- From the day he started playing basketball, Penn State newcomer Jaheam Cornwall has strived to be the best player he could be.
"Growing up in New York, I started playing on the playground after classes. Everyone would run to the basketball courts right after school to play pickup games," he said. "For me, it was wanting to play with my older brother and his friends. Once I learned the basics of the sport like how to shoot and dribble, I grew as a player from there."
That growth has taken him a long way from the playgrounds of New York. A transfer from Gardner-Webb University in April, he has an accomplished past and is ready to show that talent in the Blue and White.
A 6-0 guard set to join Nittany Lions veterans Sam Sessoms and Myles Dread in the backcourt, he is going to be a vital asset on the court with his scoring ability. The newcomer scored 1,213 points in his four years at Gardner-Webb, including shooting 42.4 percent from behind the 3-point arc.
"I would say my strengths include shooting and being a playmaker with the ball," Cornwall said. "On the court I value the importance of communication with my teammates and being motivated in giving our best."
Fans should expect big things from Cornwall this season, and his goal for Penn State is to be one of the top teams in the Big Ten.
"For me personally, I want to be noticed in our league with the great platform we have in the Big Ten," he said. "One of my main goals is for Penn State to become one of the top teams in the league."
Cornwall knows what that team success can look like. He helped lead Putnam Science Academy to a 37-5 record and National Prep Championship in high school and started and played 31 minutes in Gardner-Webb's 2019 NCAA Tournament appearance. The school's first and only appearance in program history.
In addition to his goals on the court, Cornwall is finding that the Penn State atmosphere is like no other with its community ties.
"Coming from a smaller university, Penn State has a completely different atmosphere," Cornwall said. "Everyone in the community knows who we are as a team and it is such an incredible experience to receive the support we get."
An early transfer to the Nittany Lions after the hiring of new head coach Micah Shrewsberry from Purdue last spring, Cornwall is ready to play for his new coach and see that support all winter in the Bryce Jordan Center.
"Playing for Coach Shrewsberry is cool, he has a lot of experience and sees things that other people don't," said Cornwall. "During practice we are constantly moving and sharing the ball. The way that he runs our defense and practices show his expertise as a coach."
That strong coaching, along with Cornwall's talent, should be a recipe for success for the Nittany Lions this season.
Penn State is set to tip-off their season with the first game on Nov 10, 2021 against Youngstown State at the Bryce Jordan Center.