Jamari Wheeler Season 2020-21

CAREER NOTES & RECORDS
Career: Finished Penn State career as sixth all-time for career steals with 191…Stands No. 13 on career assists list with 332…Started 84 of 127 career games played in four seasons…Was two-time Big Ten All-Defensive Team selection (2019-20, 2020-21).

Season: 2020-21: Started all 25 games…Led Big Ten in steals per game (1.76) for second-straight season and was second in total steals (44)…Recorded 88 assists, including eight games with at least five…Had 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio…Registered seven double-digit scoring games, including career-best 19 vs. Nebraska (3/10/21). 2019-20: Started all 31 games...Led Big Ten in both steals per game and total steals (48), becoming the fourth-straight Nittany Lion to accomplish that feat...Recorded 99 assists with at least four in 15 games...Took care of the ball with a 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio over six games at end of December and start of January...Registered three double-figure scoring games and tied career best with three 3-pointers for season-best total 11 vs. Northwestern.  2018-19: Finished second on team with 89 assists...Excelled in February and March as Nittany Lion floor general, averaging 5.1 points per game and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.4:1 over both months...Recorded an assist-to-turnover ratio of 4.7:1 in first five games back as a starter in January...Closed season with 47 steals, second on the team behind Josh Reaves. 2017-18: Shared program record for most games played in a season (39) with Shep Garner and Lamar Stevens...Set freshman record for steals with 52.

Game: Tallied career-best 19 points vs. Nebraska in Big Ten Tournament game (3/10/21)…Grabbed career-high nine rebounds also against Nebraska in regular-season action (2/14/21)…Connected on four 3-pointers in season opener against VMI for career best total (11/28/20)…Recorded career best with nine assists vs. Illinois (3/10/19)…Went a perfect 5-5 from the field for 10 points vs. Bucknell (11/19/19)...Snatched six steals at George Mason (12/17/18) for a spot on Nittany Lions’ single-game chart at No. 6.

AS A SENIOR – 2020-21
Awards: Named to Big Ten All-Defensive Team for second-straight season.

Season: Started all 25 games…Provided team’s defensive spark as team leader in steals for the second-straight season with 44…Had seven double-figure scoring games, including a career-high 19 points against Nebraska in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament (3/10)…Recorded eight games with at least five assists and totaled team-high 88 for career-best average 3.5 assists per game…Made career-high 30 3-pointers, including single-game best four against VMI in season opener (11/28).

Rankings: Paced Big Ten Conference with 1.76 steals per game…Ranked second in league and 54th nationally with 44 total steals…Ranked ninth with 2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio…Was 12th in Big Ten in assists per game at 3.5.

VMI (11/28): Scored 18 points to lead Nittany Lions in season-opening victory…Connected on career-best four treys…Grabbed six rebounds…Had three assists and season-high five steals. VCU (12/2): Collected then tied career-high eight rebounds…Dished off tied season-best six assists. at No. 15 Virginia Tech (12/8): Set tempo for Nittany Lions with game-high six assists and zero errors…Helped force 14 total Hokie turnovers. at Purdue (1/17): Snatched game-high four steals…Added six rebounds and three assists. Rutgers (1/21): Tied season high with six assists…Recorded five rebounds. Northwestern (1/23): Scored all eight points in second half…Went 2-3 from beyond the arc…Had four rebounds, four assists and two steals. No. 14 Wisconsin (1/30): Scored nine points with two treys…Dished off game-best five assists…Registered four rebounds and two steals. Maryland (2/5): Recorded second double-digit scoring effort of season with 11 points…Had personal Big Ten best-tying three triples…Added four rebounds and two steals to stat line. Nebraska (2/14): Grabbed career-best nine rebounds…Had two assists, three steals and no turnovers in 33 minutes of action. No. 4 Ohio State (2/18): Scored 11 points…Pulled down game-high seven rebounds…Dished off four assists. at Nebraska (2/23): Had the first four assists on the first four baskets of the game…Scored in double figures with 13 points with three 3-pointers…Had five rebounds. Purdue (2/26): Recorded third game of season with six assists…Pulled down six rebounds…Collected four steals for second-straight game with that many. Minnesota (3/3): Was one of five Nittany Lions in double figures with 10 points…Dished off five assists…Had four rebounds and one steal. vs. Nebraska (3/10): Recorded career-best 19 points in first round of Big Ten Tournament…Connected on three treys…Added six rebounds, three assists and a steal to stat line. vs. Wisconsin (3/11): Played season-high 39 minutes…Went 4-7 from the field for 10 points and season-best .571 shooting percentage…Had two rebounds, two assists and a steal.

AS A JUNIOR — 2019-20
Awards: Named to Big Ten All-Defensive Team.

Season: Played and started in all 31 games...Provided team’s defensive spark and set game pace...Totaled 99 steals...Led team in steals 12 times with team single-game best four steals on three occasions (Indiana, Yale, at Georgetown)...Was the assist leader in 11 games...Had three double-figure scoring games including a season-high 11 points vs. Northwestern in BJC...Dished off for season-best seven assists vs. Central Connecticut State (12/20)...Averaged 3.4 assists in Big Ten play...Posted at least four assists in 10 games...Possessed a 2.2:1 assist-to-turnover ratio in league games and near 2.0 mark in all games...Recorded a stretch of seven games with a 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio...Had four error-free games during season...Made 14 3-pointers with 38.9 percent accuracy.

Rankings: Recorded 48 steals to lead the Big Ten Conference in both per game average (1.5 spg) and overall total...Ranked ninth in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.8:1...Was 13th in league in assists per game at 3.2.

Maryland Eastern Shore (11/5): Opened season with four assists, four steals and a block. Wagner (11/9): Posted first double-figure scoring game of season with 10 points...Shot 3-4 from the field with a then-career-best two 3-pointers...Went 2-2 from beyond the arc...Had a game-best three steals. at Georgetown (11/14): Recorded a game-high assists total with five in Gavitt Games win...Tied Lamar Stevens for team high steals total with four...Connected on a 3-pointer and finished with five points. Bucknell (11/19): Was perfect from the field (5-5) for his second 10-point game of the season...Made season-high five field goals...Added four assists and two steals to his stat line. Yale (11/23): Pulled down then-season best five rebounds and tied season high with four steals. vs. Syracuse (11/29): Grabbed season-best seven rebounds...Added three assists and two steals to accompany his four points. Wake Forest (12/4): Contributed four rebounds and two points in B1G/ACC Challenge win. at Ohio State (12/7): Scored two points and assisted on two baskets. No. 4 Maryland (12/10): Helped stymie Terp offense...Anticipated opportunity on break for layup off a Myreon Jones’ steal and assist...Scored all four points in first half...Added a block and a steal to totals. Central Connecticut State (12/20): Connected with five different Nittany Lions for season-best seven assists (Lamar Stevens-2, Izaiah Brockington-2, Myreon Jones, Mike Watkins and Myles Dread)...Had only one turnover to start stretch of six games with a combined 4:1 assist-to-turnover ratio...Went 3-4 from field and added two free throws for eight points. vs. No. 23 Iowa (1/4): Contributed four points, three assists and two steals in Nittany Lions’ second win of season over a ranked team. Wisconsin (1/11): Tied career best with two of his three field goals coming from beyond the 3-point arc...Finished night with eight points...Had three rebounds, one assist and a steal. at Minnesota (1/15): Had four assists and one steal with no turnovers. No. 21 Ohio State (1/18): Fired a pass through the lane to Mike Watkins for a reverse alley-oop for one of his two assists...Scored two points. at Michigan (1/22): Dished off for team-high four assists. Indiana (1/29): Directed Nittany Lions on the court with game-high five assists and picked up four steals...Had five boards and four points. at Nebraska (2/1): Connected on both 3-point field goal attempts for six points...Pulled down five rebounds...three assists...Tied teammate John Harrar for game high in steals with two. at No. 16 Michigan State (2/4): Converted layup to help Nittany Lions get within one point with just under five minutes to play...Had four assists, including a perfect lob to set up Mike Watkins’ dunk for a seven-point Penn State lead...Added three rebounds and two steals in historic win at Breslin Center. Minnesota (2/8): Racked up another perfect afternoon from field going 2-2 from floor with a triple for five points...Converted layup to hold off Golden Gophers’ late rally. at Purdue (2/11): Hit 3-pointer to give Nittany Lions their first double-digit lead...Had five assists. Northwestern (2/15): Scored Big Ten career-high 11 points with four field goals including a career-best three 3-pointers...Dished off six times and had two steals and a blocked shot...Hit triple for first points of game...Started 19-4 run with his second 3-pointer of first half. Illinois (2/18): Registered second-straight game with six assists and a block...Scored two points and had two rebounds. at Indiana (2/23): Went 2-3 from floor with three points from line for seven total...Had two steals and two rebounds. Rutgers (2/26): Played season-high 37 minutes...Connected for a 3-pointer early and snagged steal on next play...Had four rebounds and three assists. at No. 18 Iowa (2/29): Pulled down six rebounds and had two assists. No. 16 Michigan State (3/3): Took care of the ball with five assists with no turnovers...Had two offensive rebounds and fifth block of season. at Northwestern (3/7): Had six rebounds...Assisted on four baskets and had four points of of...Tied for game high in steals (2).

AS A SOPHOMORE — 2018-19
Awards: Selected as “Most Improved Player” at the team’s annual banquet...Named a member of the team’s “Juice Squad” with John Harrar and Kyle McCloskey to serve as a role model for leading and motivating teammates...All three were honored with the Dave Phillips Unsung Hero Award at the annual banquet.

Season: Started in 25 games and played in all 32...Took on more of a leadership role and was a force in Nittany Lions’ turnaround beginning in mid-January and started final 16 games of the year...Accounted for 134 field goals and possessed a season assist-to-turnover ratio of 2-to-1...Was an integral force on defense, as opponents averaged 13.5 turnovers per game with 105 in February alone...Led team in assists 13 times, including nine of the last 10 games...Topped the steals column six times.
Rankings: Totaled 47 steals for third individually in Big Ten rankings (1.5 spg) behind chart-topper and teammate Josh Reaves and Rutgers’ Geo Baker with 51.

North Florida (11/9): Tallied three assists, three rebounds and three points along with a steal. Jacksonville State (11/12): Pulled down two rebounds and had two assists and a steal. at DePaul (11/15): Had three rebounds and two steals and two points. vs. Wright State (11/20): Contributed 12 points off 4-5 shooting with two key 3-pointers...Assisted on four baskets and had no turnovers in 30 minutes of play. vs. Bradley (11/21): Matched a career-high total with seven rebounds and picked up a steal. Virginia Tech (11/27): Scored seven points and had four rebounds and two assists. at Maryland (12/1): Plucked then-season best four steals, tying Josh Reaves for team-high honors, and had two assists. Indiana (12/4): Collected a career-best eight rebounds. Colgate (12/8): Handed out three assists. vs. NC State (12/15): Went 3-4 from the field and had three free throws for nine points and added five rebounds, two assists and two steals in 19 minutes of play. at Duquesne (12/19): Re-entered the starting lineup and scored eight points with three rebounds, two assists and two steals. at Alabama (12/21): Registered first block of the season. Wisconsin (1/6): Had two assists and a block in limited minutes. at Nebraska (1/10): Grabbed four rebounds and had two points, two assists and a steal. Michigan State (1/13): Returned to the starting lineup and hit a 3-pointer and had two steals. Iowa (1/16): Dished out a career-best seven assists as the Nittany Lions had a season-high 23 assists...Committed only one turnover...Scored five points with a trey and two free throws. at Minnesota (1/19): Had two assists and a steal. Rutgers (1/26): Maintained error-free play with four assists with no turnovers in 21 minutes. Purdue (1/31): Had five points, two steals and an assist. at Northwestern (2/4): Scored his then-Big Ten-best seven points coming off three field goals with two assists, two steals and three rebounds. at Ohio State (2/7): Provided several defensive highlights with his Big Ten-best five steals, including a near-full-court dash to swipe the ball late in second half. Michigan (2/12): Scored first PSU points of game and led team with four assists and three steals...Grabbed six rebounds. at Purdue (2/16): Had two points, two rebounds, two assists and two steals. Nebraska (2/19): Connected on four baskets and added a free throw for Big Ten career-best nine points...Added five assists and two rebounds to his stat line. at  Illinois (2/23): Duplicated Big Ten best with nine points off three field goals and three free throws...Accounted for five more baskets with five assists. Maryland (2/27): Tied then-career best with seven assists and had collected rebounds and a steal. at Wisconsin (3/2): Scored four points and had five rebounds and four assists. at Rutgers (3/6): Protected Nittany Lion lead with two of his five rebounds late in game. Illinois (3/10): Assisted on nine Nittany Lion baskets for career-best mark...Tacked on five rebounds, three points and three steals to his totals. vs. Minnesota-BTT (3/14): Went 6-9 from the field for 13 points and tied for the team high with seven rebounds...Dished off four times with no turnovers and added three steals. 

AS A FRESHMAN — 2017-18
Season: Played in all 39 games, scored in 21, and made three-straight starts vs. Nebraska (1/12), Minnesota (1/15) and Northwestern (1/20)...Second behind Josh Reaves on team with 52 steals and tied for sixth in Big Ten...Led the Lions 15 times in the steals category and tied Shep Garner with three vs. Mississippi State in NIT semifinals (3/27)...Recorded four steals and had five assists in action in three games at 2018 Big Ten Tournament...Went 8-12 (66.7 percent) from field combined vs. Pittsburgh, Texas A&M and Oral Roberts, dishing out six assists with eight steals and a block.

Columbia (11/17): Scored seven points with four assists and three steals. vs. Pittsburgh (11/20): Played 19 minutes and had two assists without any turnovers, adding a steal and a rebound. vs. Texas A&M (11/21): Had two steals that lead directly to layups in the second half, the second punctuating a Penn State rally to trim the No. 16 Aggies' lead to five. Oral Roberts (11/24): Shared team scoring lead with career-best 14 points with six points and two steals in first four minutes of play...Led Nittany Lions with seven rebounds and five steals, also both career bests. at Iowa (12/2): Made critical defensive play in win and had four assists to only one turnover. Wisconsin (12/4): Picked up a rebound, assist and steal. at George Mason (12/17): Grabbed a career-best six steals which ranks No. 6 on PSU single-game list...Scored five points. Coppin State (12/30): Tied career-high total in rebounds with seven, all on the defensive side. at Maryland (1/2): Contributed four points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists. Northwestern (1/5): Had a game-high and career-best five assists with four points and three steals. at Indiana (1/9): Had career-best two blocks with two assists and a steal...Tied Big Ten career high for minutes with 22. Nebraska (1/12): Earned first career start and responded with five rebounds, three assists and a steal in 26 minutes in overtime win. Minnesota (1/15): Pulled down four rebounds and had two assists and two steals without a turnover in starting role. Iowa (2/3): Scored two points and had three rebounds. at Illinois (2/11): Had a steal and score with final totals of two points, three assists and two steals. vs. Northwestern-BTT (3/1): Registered three assists, two rebounds, steal and free throw in Big Ten Tournament opener. vs. Ohio State-BTT (3/2): Had two steals, an assist and a rebound in 13 minutes in quarterfinal game. at Marquette-NIT (3/20): Had two steals in NIT quarterfinal win, including heads-up steal midway through fourth quarter for another Nittany Lion possession. Utah-NIT (3/29): Set up an assist for Lamar Stevens’ field goal at end of first half.

HIGH SCHOOL
Rated an ESPN three-star prospect and No. 22 player from the state of Florida...Helped lead The Rock School to a school-record 35 wins in 2016-17...Named the Gainesville Sun Small Schools Player of the Year...Averaged 16.0 points, 6.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 4.0 steals per game as a senior...Florida Association of Basketball Coaches first-team all-state selection (Independent)...Played for AAU team “Team Breakdown.” 

PERSONAL
Full name is Jamari Antione Wheeler...Parents are Kieasha Perry and Thomas Charlton...Son of Ryan Wheeler...Has two brothers, Antrell and Tyler, and a sister, Makayla...Majoring in rehabilitation and human services...Born on December 9, 1997, in Gainesville, Florida.