With strong perimeter skills and the ability to run the floor, Suotamo continues to mold his game and become a valuable asset to the Nittany Lions...He stayed on campus for the first time during the summer off-season gaining strength in the weight room and confidence in his game on the floor and was widely lauded as one of the most improved players during the off-season...Once again joined the Finnish National Team late in the summer and competed at the World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand...A strong offensive rebounder who excells facing the basket and hitting the 12- to 15-foot jumper, he is expected to make a strong push for playing time at the 'five' spot in his junior season.
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2006-07 SEASON SOPHOMORE
Played in 18 games on the year averaging 5.8 minutes per game...Scored in seven games on the year and played double-digit minutes in four games...Played in 11 Big Ten games including eight straight from Feb. 7 to Feb. 28...Scored a career high four points and had one rebound vs. Maine (12/23)...Had two points and three rebounds in Big Ten opening win over Northwestern (1/3)...Played a career high 18 minutes and grabbed a career best six rebounds while scoring two points vs. Wisconsin (2/7)...Equaled his career best with four points vs. Iowa (2/28)...Competed with the Finnish National Team at the World University Games in Bangkok, Thailand during the summer scoring 22 points and grabbing 10 rebounds as the Finnish team went 3-3.
2005-06 SEASON FRESHMAN
A pre-season stress fracture in his left foot caused him to miss nearly a month of practice and Penn State[apos]s first eight games of the season...The missed time considerably slowed his development but he began to make strides and grasp the Nittany Lions[apos] offensive and defensive systems late in the year...Returned to practice on Dec. 16 and saw the first action of his career in Penn State[apos]s 75-51 win over New Hampshire (12/20)...Played in 11 games (seven in Big Ten play), logging a career high eight minutes at Wisconsin (1/25)...Scored his first points with a basket and a free throw and added two boards at Ohio State (1/5)..Suffered a torn tendon in his thumb while playing in the spring...Returned to Finland during the summer to compete with the Finnish National Team in the European Junior Championships...The Finnish team took third in the tournament after defeating teams from Macedonia, Austria, Belgium, Georgia, Holland and Iceland..Suotamo averaged 13.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg and shot 58.1 percent from the field.
EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE
Played for the Finnish National Team in the European Championships in Bulgaria in the summer of 2005 and was a member of the Finnish National Team that competed in the World University Games in Turkey in August of that year...Emerged as one of Finland[apos]s most potent weapons in the U20 Championships in Bulgaria in August, 2005...After scoring just three points in the first two games, Suotamo exploded for 26 points and 16 rebounds vs. the Slovak Republic...Scored in double figures for the remainder of the tournament...Ended the tournament averaging 13.4 ppg and 6.3 rpg while averaging 23 minutes per game over eight games...Also shot 58.1 percent from the field and blocked seven shots in the tournament.
PERSONAL
A native of Espoo, Finland, his full name is Joonas Viljami Suotamo...Has two brothers...Was born on Oct. 3, 1986...Interested in pursuing a career in movies or television...Has earned a 3.43 cumulative grade-point average through the spring semester of 2007.