Indiana-transfer Rob Hodgson looking at Penn

Even though seniors Jerome Allen, Matt Maloney, Shawn Trice, Eric Moore and Scott Kegler will be graduating in May, there is something to look forward to for Penn basketball fans. Penn coach Fran Dunphy and his staff are working hard to fill the talent void left by the departing class -- and there is optimism on the recruiting front. Jed Ryan, a 6-foot-5 forward from Cathedral Prep in Erie, will attend Penn next fall. Cathedral won the state championship in 1993 and advanced to the finals last year. Ryan led the team in scoring this season, but Cathedral lost last week in the state semifinals. "Kids that come from really successful programs are usually harder workers," Dunphy said. "They know what it takes to win. Jed is a good player. He can make shots and he really knows the game. His best days are certainly in front of him." Ryan was also recruited by Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conference schools. One of Ryan's opponents in last year's state final was Ray Carroll, a 6-2 shooting guard at Chester High. Carroll is one of the top students in his class, and is hoping to attend Penn in the fall if the financial aid package the University proposes is acceptable, according to a source familiar with the program. Carroll is a physical guard who plays excellent defense and was instrumental in Chester's state championship last season. Carroll, who averaged 24 points, nine rebounds and seven assists per game this past year at Chester, was described by the source as "the ultimate warrior" on the basketball court. "Right now, we're just going through financial matters," Carroll said. "I'm not sure whether I'll get in, but Penn is definitely where I want to be. I'm hoping to get into the Wharton School, but if not I'll study engineering." Although Dunphy has seen Carroll play on numerous occasions, both over the summer and throughout the season, he cannot comment until Carroll is accepted to Penn. "I like coach Dunphy a lot," Carroll said. "He's got a great personality and he's a great coach. I took an unofficial visit and Jerome [Allen] showed me around. He told me all about Penn and what life is like there. I'm looking forward to working real hard and doing my best, but those are big shoes to fill." The most exciting of the potential incoming Quakers could be Rob Hodgson, a 6-7 forward who originally went to Indiana to play for coach Bobby Knight. The Indiana assistants who recruited Hodgson, Long Island's high school player of the year last season, informed him he would play immediately. When Hodgson arrived on campus, however, Knight said he planned to red-shirt the freshman, and Hodgson immediately transferred to Suffolk County Community College. "Indiana was very positive about him," Rob's father said. "They thought he'd be a big part of their future, but Rob feels more certain about things this way." Hodgson likes what he sees at Penn. "Rob is extremely interested in the Wharton School and in studying business," the elder Hodgson said. "He also very much likes the basketball atmosphere at Penn. The Palestra is a great place to play and Coach Dunphy does a terrific job. He wants to continue a great tradition. Right now, we're evaluating the financial aid situation, but there are a lot of positives for Penn." South Carolina, Rutgers, Vanderbilt and North Carolina State are also interested in Hodgson. "He's got lots of talent and he's a very bright student," the source said. "He has Bobby Morris qualities with a real inside-outside game. He has the potential to be really dominant in the Ivy League." Hodgson will not be eligible to play for Penn until second semester next year. After that he will have three full seasons of eligibility remaining. · With all this new talent coming to West Philadelphia, the Quakers need opponents against which to showcase their new talent. No worries. USC is expected to come to the Palestra early next season to complete a home-and-home series started two years ago. A game is also scheduled against Penn State in Atlantic City, the first for the Quakers against the Nittany Lions in three years. And after winning this season's ECAC Holiday Festival in New York, Penn will be hoping to continue its Christmas success next year when the Quakers visit Arizona State for the Sun Devils' annual tourney. In addition to Arizona State, Detroit Mercy and Southern Methodist will also compete in Tempe, Ariz. Dunphy is also trying to set up a game with either St. Louis or Missouri so junior Cedric Laster could play a game near his hometown of Clayton, Mo. This year, Penn travelled to play Michigan for Detroit native Shawn Trice. · With assistant coach Fran O'Hanlon leaving to take the head coaching job at Lafayette, at least one assistant coach position will be vacant. Although no official decision has been made, part-time assistant Steve Donahue is a front-runner for the position. Trice, if he decides to stay in Philadelphia, would be a possibility to assume the part-time job. The Quakers might lose their other assistant coach, Gil Jackson, as well. Jackson is a finalist for the head coaching job at Delaware. "One of the perils of coaching is getting close to people," Dunphy said. "The more success you have, the more chance people have of moving on. We are grateful for everything both of these people have done for our program. We will miss Fran's intellect, his personality and his knowledge of the game. As for Gil, he has served his time very well here and he's more than ready to be a head coach somewhere. It would be a loss for us, but we're prepared to deal with it if it comes to that." As for Dunphy, he insists he is perfectly happy at Penn and has no thoughts of moving on to a program like Georgia or Wisconsin. "I'm perfectly happy where I am," Dunphy said. "Obviously, you always have to do what's best for your family, and you'd look at an offer, but I'm very appreciative of what I have here." The source said he thinks Dunphy will stay at Penn for a long time and eventually would like to move into a position in the athletic administration. On the other hand, Dunphy will not be teaching his Wharton management class in the fall.