Report: Former Penn State forward makes transfer choice
A second Nittany Lion to have entered the transfer portal this offseason has landed with a new program. Following the announcement of Kanye Clary’s decision to play for Mississippi State next season, his Penn State classmate has similarly settled on a next stop.
Demetrius Lilley, a 6-foot-10, 245-pound forward from Philadelphia, will play for La Salle next season, according to reporter Ari Rosenfeld.
The transfer settles the move of Lilley, who spent his first two seasons of college ball with Penn State. In his two years of action, he appeared in 25 total games, averaging 2.4 points and 2.2 rebounds over that stretch. Playing in only five games as a true freshman during the 2022-23 season, Lilley preserved his redshirt and will have three seasons of eligibility remaining for the Explorers.
Demetrius Lilley shows growth at Penn State
Beyond his stat line, Lilley’s story with the Nittany Lions was one of development. Arriving to the program out of shape and injured, he spent much of his first year with then-head coach Micah Shrewsberry unavailable while battling injury.
However, tasked with getting into the “best shape of his life” by the program’s new coach this past offseason, Mike Rhoades, Lilley made the commitment and delivered on the challenge. Returning to Penn State lighter and more agile, Lilley impressed the staff through the offseason.
“Meech, I’m really proud of him. He’s in the best shape of his life. He’s done a super job of playing through fatigue and all that stuff. I’m just really proud of how he’s getting better and better because his body’s not getting in his way,” said Rhoades last September. “He has a very good basketball IQ. He’s got to be our junkyard dog. He’s got to be that guy for us and use his basketball IQ.”
Over an ensuing 20 games, while battling injury late in the season that forced him out of action for about a month, Lilley produced 2.8 points and 2.7 rebounds while averaging 9.2 minutes. Most notably, he contributed 4 points and 6 boards in an 87-83 upset win over Wisconsin in January.
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“He’s been getting better like the game,” said starting Penn State center, Qudus Wahab. “The Wisconsin game, I was in foul trouble and he really came up big for us that game. We were able to win that game because of his contribution.”
With Lilley’s exit official, Penn State has three unresolved transfers moving out of the program. Guard Bragi Gudmundsson, big man Favour Aire, and guard Jameel Brown have yet to announce transfer destinations.
Where things stand for Penn State (10 of 13 scholarships projected filled)
Guards Ace Baldwin, Jahvin Carter, D’Marco Dunn, Dominick Stewart
Wings Nick Kern, Zach Hicks, Puff Johnson, Hudson Ward
Bigs Miles Goodman, Kachi Nzeh
Penn State scholarship breakdown by class
Bonus year (2): Ace Baldwin, Puff Johnson
Fourth year (3): Nick Kern, Zach Hicks, D’Marco Dunn
Third year (0):
Second year (1): Kachi Nzeh
First year (4): Jahvin Carter, Miles Goodman, Dominick Stewart, Hudson Ward
