UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa- For Penn State men's basketball newcomer Jalanni White, coming to Penn State was about putting himself in a position to win and succeed.
Transferring from Canisius, a school of less than 5,000 students, Happy Valley was overwhelmingly different for White, yet his new teammates and coaches made the adjustment simple.
"They made it really easy," said White. "Everyone is really talkative and positive which helped a lot. I follow John Harrar in practice, so he always helps me through drills. At Canisius I used to play against Jalen Pickett, so knowing him was comforting. I love all these guys and I feel really comfortable around them."
His four years at Canisius gave White a tremendous amount of experience that he will be able to contribute to the team. White averaged 5.1 points and 2.6 rebounds per game over 98 games played and 40 starts for the Griffins and was named to 2019 MAAC All-Championship team.
With 64 blocks and 41 steals throughout his career, Nittany Lion fans will quickly get used to White's defensive presence.
"On the court I contribute a lot on defense," said White when asked what fans can expect from him this season. "I want to be recognized as one of the better players in the Big Ten defensively, so fans can definitely expect to see me do a lot down there."
Alongside White, another newcomer to the program is new head coach Micah Shrewsberry. For White, Shrewsberry is what brought him to Penn State, and he is grateful for everything he has done to help him adjust to the program.
"Being that I played four years at another school, that system is ingrained in me," said White. "Coach Shrewsberry is really patient with me and he helps whenever I need it. He has so much experience, so I've learned a lot from him."
All of the newcomers bring fierce competition to practice every day, especially knowing that the forward position is limited. For White, some of his best basketball is seen through his efforts fighting for the forward position against his teammates John Harrar and Greg Lee.
"Jalanni is tough," said Shrewsberry when asked about the fight for the forward position. "When the action starts, he is not afraid to mix it up and he hits people in the paint. He enjoys his battles with those guys. There's a great competition there."
Individually, White mentioned he wants to be recognized as a key player defensively in the Big Ten. As a team, he is setting goals with his teammates to do whatever it takes to make it to the postseason with their 'just win' mentality.
"As a team I want to win," said White. "Everybody is willing to do everything to make it to the tournament and I want to contribute to that."
For White, this season is about coming together with a new group of teammates to collectively win their way to the tournament.
"I know what it takes to win," he said. "I have to bring energy, I have to be there on defense, and I have to rebound."
White and the Nittany Lions look forward to learning every day and growing throughout the season.
"We've all been working really hard and want to see how far we can make it when the time comes," said White.
