Penn State point guard Ace Baldwin nabs All-Big Ten preseason honors
Penn State basketball waited weeks to learn the decision on a return for a fifth season or moving onto a professional career for Ace Baldwin this offseason. As the Big Ten unofficially kicks off the 2024-25 college hoops season this week, the program doesn’t need to wait to contextualize his return’s importance.
Announced Tuesday afternoon, Baldwin has been selected as one of 10 preseason All-Big Ten honorees by the conference’s voting media members.
Among the top scorers, assist leaders, steal leaders, and minutes played last season in the Big Ten, Baldwin begins his last go ’round with heightened anticipation for the upcoming campaign. Making his decision public to come back on May 24, the time since has delivered from Baldwin one of his best efforts in the time he’s been with head coach Mike Rhoades.
“This is the best Ace Baldwin I’ve ever seen, on and off the court,” Rhoades told reporters this summer. “I’m super proud of him. He’s been in the gym more than any player on our team this offseason. He’s done a great job leading by example on the court, but also helping the young guys.”
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Baldwin produced 14.3 points, 6.0 assists, and 2.7 steals per game as a Nittany Lion last season. All were career bests, as were his 35.6 minutes per game. He played in all 31 regular season contests for Penn State, knocking down a career-best 83.2 percent of his free throws while hitting 39.7 percent of his shots and 34.8 percent of his 3-point attempts on the season.
An ‘I got it guy’
Baldwin’s offseason has been buzz producing throughout the program through the summer months. Reconvening for the start of preseason camp last week, the start of a six-week build-up before the home-opener against Binghamton on Nov. 4, the fifth-year senior was the kick-off note of Blue White Illustrated’s preseason “Buzzworthy” feature.
All of the things Penn State had hoped to get from Baldwin last season, many of which came to fruition but a few others of which were left wanting, have transpired. Going into the summer, Rhoades previewed as much in an interview with Blue White Illustrated.
“I’ve had some teams like that, where the seniors become ‘I got it’ guys. ‘I got it, Coach. I got this guy,’ and we all are rowing in the same direction. We all have two feet in the boat,” said Rhoades. “That’s what happens.”
Freed from the square peg/round hole issue of sharing a backcourt with Kanye Clary, and the implications of a returning contributor versus his own transfer status, the question of who this Penn State team belongs to has been answered definitively.
It’s Ace’s team. He’s been an ‘I got it’ guy. His focus on maximizing his final season of eligibility after giving a jump to the pros serious consideration is there. And, Penn State is expecting to see the dividends of that commitment.
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