Penn State hoops makes splash, landing talented transfer guard Andrew Funk

Just days after the conclusion of his first season in the program, Penn State head coach Micah Shrewsberry addressed the obvious.

His program, with scholarships to fill for the 2022-23 season, would again turn to the NCAA transfer portal. But, with a class of five true freshmen set to enroll this summer, experienced contributors would be prioritized.

“For next year’s team, we do want to add a couple of older guys,” Shrewsberry said. “So we don’t have to lean on those freshmen just to be primetime players right off the bat, which is really hard to do as a college freshman. No matter how good you are, freshmen struggle a little bit, and freshmen struggle at times.”

Thursday, Penn State notched a big win to that end.

Announcing his decision via Twitter, Bucknell graduate transfer guard Andrew Funk has selected to play his final season at Penn State. He entered the transfer portal in March and landed on Penn State Thursday.

Explaining his choice, Funk said it was all about the opportunity to compete and improve. In doing so, he hopes to help lift the Penn State program.

“I really wanted to challenge myself for the last year. I thought this was a great way to do it in a program that is going in an upward trajectory. (It’s a program) that has a chance to be good next year in a conference like the Big Ten and where I’m going to be pushed every day,” Funk said. “So, I think that was a big part of of the decision for me was that I’m gonna be challenged. It’s gonna be hard and it’s a big thing that I’m honestly looking forward to, getting myself better, and putting myself to work like that.

What Penn State is getting in Andrew Funk

Listed at 6-foot-5, 188 pounds, Funk is a prolific combo guard with a career 11.2 points per game average coming off an excellent senior season.

A four-year contributor at Bucknell, Funk comes to Penn State with high hopes for himself and the program. He posted a career-high 17.8 points per game and finished as a second-team All-Patriot League performer last season.

For Penn State, the addition accomplishes an element Shrewsberry set out from the beginning. Namely, with Jalen Pickett and Myles Dread returning for bonus seasons of eligibility, and Dallion Johnson back as a redshirt sophomore, the Nittany Lions have boosted their scoring options at guard with the pickup.

“We just want some guys with them that can relieve that pressure so they can grow on their own timeline. I think similar to how you saw Dallion (Johnson) used year,” Shrewsberry said. “He grew into becoming a more prominent player for us. That’s what our hope is for these freshmen. I hope they’re ready right away and they come in and take the reins and do it themselves. But we want to make sure we have the help that they need right away.”

Funk is expecting to provide that to Penn State this season.

In addition to his scoring, with a 36.2 percent clip from beyond-the-arc (84 of 232 last season), Funk rebounds well. Also, Funk is considered to be a high basketball-IQ addition, dishing out a career-high 2.9 assists against 53 turnovers in 36.5 minutes per game last season.

“It was that first year this year. I think there’s something to be said for guys coming into it and then going into the second year knowing their system. I think that is a big thing,” Funk said. “So I think I can definitely come and help with that. I think that’s a big part of the reason why they recruited me.”

Funk is originally from Warrington, Pa., in the northwest suburbs of Philadelphia. He played at nearby Philadelphia Catholic League mainstay Archbishop Wood.