Ace Baldwin Jr. Season 2023-24

CAREER NOTES & RECORDS
Finished 2023-24 season as the only active Division I player with 1,000+ career points (1,297), 600+ career assists (618) and 250+ career steals (271).
 
AS A SENIOR - 2023-24
Season: Put together standout debut season in the Blue & White, averaging 14.2 points, 6.0 assists, 2.67 steals and 2.7 rebounds per game...Earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors as his 2.67 steals per game were the most by a Big Ten player in a single season since the 1992-93 season (31 years)...Led Penn State in scoring in nine games and led the Nittany Lions in assists in 27 games...Had 27 double-digit scoring games and six 20-plus point efforts.
 
Awards: Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year...Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year Semifinalist...Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year Finalist...NABC Second Team All-District 7...Third-team All-Big Ten (coaches & media)...Big Ten All-Defensive Team.
 
Rankings: His 2.67 steals per game were the most by a Big Ten player in a single season since the 1992-93 season (31 years)...Finished the season ranked fourth in the country in steals per game (2.67), fifth in steals (88), 20th in assists (199) and 24th in assists per game (6.0)...Finished the season #2 all-time at Penn State in single-season assists (199), #3 all-time at Penn State in single-season steals (88) and #5 all-time at Penn State in single-season assists average (6.0)... Tied single-game program record and set Bryce Jordan Center facility record with eight steals on Jan. 10 vs. Northwestern.
 
Lehigh (11/10): Had first double-digit game as a Nittany Lion with 16 points and three steals. vs. VCU (11/26): Went off for season-high 27 points while adding five assists and two steals. at Maryland (12/6): Finished with 16 points behind a perfect 9-for-9 showing from the free throw line and added five assists and two steals in Big Ten opener. Ohio State (12/9): Nailed game-tying basket and go-ahead triple in final minutes of comeback win, finishing with nine points, three rebounds, five assists and three steals. vs. Georgia Tech (12/16): Had 18 points, seven assists and four steals in one-point overtime loss. Rider (12/29): Scored 1,000th career point with a free throw with 19.7 seconds remaining in the first half and added nine assists. Michigan (1/7): Went off for 25 points on 8-of-13 shooting and 9-for-10 showing from free throw line in come-from-behind at The Palestra. Northwestern (1/10): Tied single-game program record and set Bryce Jordan Center facility record with eight steals. at #1 Purdue (1/13): Dished a career-high 13 assists to go along with seven points and five steals. #11 Wisconsin (1/16): Drilled four 3-pointers en route to 20 points, five assists and three rebounds in ranked win. at Rutgers (1/31): Led the Nittany Lions to road win with first double-double as a Nittany Lion, finishing with 15 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and five steals. at Indiana (2/3): Tallied team-best marks of 22 points and eight assists to go along with two steals in dominant road win. Iowa (2/8): Scored 13 of team-best 22 points in game’s final 3:48 to lead Penn State to win while adding six assists, four steals and two rebounds. #12 Illinois (2/21): Registered second double-double in a Penn State uniform with 10 points and a game-high 12 assists in comeback win inside Rec Hall. Indiana (2/24): Went off for 23 points, nine assists, four steals and four rebounds. Maryland (3/10): Had third double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds in Senior Night win. vs. Michigan – Big Ten Tournament First Round (3/13): Stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals in Big Ten Tournament win.

BEFORE PENN STATE
2020-23 – AT VCU
Put together three standout seasons at VCU as a two-time All-Conference pick and the 2023 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year...Averaged double-digit points during both his sophomore and junior seasons and led the Rams in assists in all three of his seasons at VCU...Compiled marks of 829 points (10.4 ppg), 419 assists (5.2 apg) and 183 steals (2.3 spg) while guiding the Rams to a 68-25 record, two NCAA Tournaments and one NIT appearance through his three seasons at VCU.
 
AS A JUNIOR – 2022-23 – AT VCU
Awards: Atlantic 10 Player of the Year...Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year...First-team All-Atlantic 10...Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team.
 
Season: Became the fourth player in Atlantic 10 history to win both Player and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season...Led the Rams in scoring, assists and steals while leading VCU to the 2022-23 Atlantic 10 regular-season and tournament championships and an NCAA Tournament appearance...Averaged 12.7 ppg, while ranking 15th nationally in assists per game (5.8) and 19th nationally in steals per game (2.23)...Was the catalyst for a VCU defense that ranked 15th nationally in KenPom’s adjusted defensive efficiency metric...Scored in double-figures in 21 of 30 games...Scored career-high 37 points on 80% (12-15) shooting in road win at St. Louis on Feb. 3...Had a double-double with 13 points and 10 assists in victory over Fordham on Feb. 18.
 
AS A SOPHOMORE – 2021-22 – AT VCU
Awards: Second-team All-Atlantic 10.
 
Season: Averaged 11.4 points, 5.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game...Ranked third nationally in steals per game...Led the Rams with a 41.3 3FG%...Tallied 16 double-digit scoring efforts and registered five or more steals in five contests....Recorded first collegiate double-double with 18 points and 10 assists in win at George Mason on Feb. 12...Drained game-winning 3-pointer in one-point win at Dayton on Jan. 5.
 
AS A FRESHMAN – 2020-21 – AT VCU
Awards: Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team.
 
Season: Started all 26 games in rookie season, the first freshman to start every game for the Rams since 2009...Averaged 4.4 assists per game, the most by a freshman in VCU history...Averaged 6.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 29.9 minutes per game...Led VCU and ranked second in the conference with 2.1 steals per game...Tallied eight double-digit scoring efforts.
 
HIGH SCHOOL
Enjoyed a standout high school career at St. Frances Academy where he was a three-time first team All-State selection, the two-time All-Metro Player of the Year, three-time Baltimore County Tournament MVP and three-time first-team All-Baltimore County honoree.
 
PERSONAL
Full name is Adrian Baldwin Jr...Son of Nina Baldwin...Has five siblings.