With a new head coach and six new players ready to suit up for Penn men’s basketball, the Quakers are ready to try to win the program's first Ivy League title since 2018.
This season, four freshmen and two transfers join the roster. The rookies are forward/center Dalton Scantlebury, guard Payton Kamin, forward William Kruse, guard Jay Jones, and forward/guard Ryan Altman. The two transfers are sophomore forward Lucas Lueth and junior forward TJ Power, who is the program's first former five-star recruit.
As tip-off nears, get to know some of the new faces that will be lacing it up for the Red and Blue this season.
Dalton Scantlebury
Before receiving a single college offer, Scantlebury knew he wanted to play basketball for Penn, and his childhood dream was finally realized this past year.
“Getting able to come in each and everyday and … to be able to shoot around by myself in this massive arena is just such a surreal experience," Scantlebury said.
Scantlebury played in the storied Chicago Public League that has seen the likes of NBA all-stars and MVPs like Derrick Rose, Jabari Parker, and Anthony Davis. Scantlebury attributed it as a major influence on his desire to pursue collegiate basketball.
“[The Chicago Public League] means a lot to me … There is just a lot of culture behind that and I noticed it more as I got older … To be able to contribute to that and be a part of that community was just a great experience,” he said.
RELATED:
A tale of two programs: Penn men’s basketball’s historic rise, fall, and quest to rise again
The team-oriented forward prides himself on being a “glue guy” who contributes a high motor and the ability to make hustle plays on offense. This season, Scantlebury wants to contribute to achieving only one goal.
“Winning the Ivy. I haven't really thought about anything else."
Payton Kamin
Kamin is a fellow Chicago native who played under legendary coach Tom Kleinschmidt during his time at DePaul Prep before Kamin transferred to Worcester Academy in Massachusetts. The 6-foot-7 freshman credited both places for giving him the knowledge and competition to excel.
“[Kleinschmidt] taught me a lot about the game [and] about toughness … But then I felt it was the best move for me to go out to New England for prep school," Kamin said. "[At Worcester Academy] , I had a great experience out there … all the guys are older, more skilled."
Kamin attributed his toughness to the gritty, physical play at DePaul Prep, while playing at Worcester Academy provided him with the opportunity to adapt to collegiate play.
“In Chicago … everyone's so tough, just like Chicago-style basketball … In New England, everyone is older, more skilled, different style, more back and forth, more similar to college basketball,” Kamin said.
With his unique skillset, Kamin hopes to make winning plays for the Red and Blue.
William Kruse
Kruse hails from Nesbru, Norway, and the 6-foot-11 forward brings unique international experience to the team. Even as a freshman player, Kruse feels that he possesses a lot of experience from playing against adults in Norway's national league.
“It’s an easier transition than going from high school to college … it's a changing college landscape now. I’ve played against a lot of 30-year-olds, 32-year-olds, so it's getting used to those older guys as well,” Krusesaid.
The "Kruse Missile", according to assistant coach Tristan Spurlock, also hopes to use his height and his all-around versatility to contribute to the floor.
“I’m lengthy. I disrupt a lot of shots. I can also bring some rebounding, and I can stretch the floor … I can shoot the three as well," Kruse said.
Jay Jones
Rounding out the freshman on the squad is Jones, a 6-foot-4 guard from Chestnut Hill, Mass. Unlike most incoming freshmen, Jones did a post-grad at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass., after his storied high school tenure at The Rivers School. He feels that this has better prepared him for the collegiate play.
“The extra year definitely helped. Just getting stronger… learning more about this game. I feel like it was a great league, like we played a lot of really good players, so it was just more physical than my last high school.” Jones said, “It has prepared me going into this new environment."
Jones looks to contribute with high basketball IQ and a willingness to play hard day in and day out. Off the court, the point guard brings a sense of community to a Penn team he already feels connected to.
"I feel like I’ve gotten close with a lot of these dudes...As a point guard, [I want to be] a coach on the floor for everybody, and … making sure I’m being vocal,” Jones said.
Lucas Lueth
One of the two transfers to the team this year is 6-foot-7 sophomore Lucas Lueth, who is coming off a strong season at Kirkwood Community College, where he led his team to a National Junior College Athletic Association Division II national championship. Lueth has individual and team goals for the season ahead.
“Individually, just better than last year. … As a team, the Ivy League Championship. That’s first and foremost our goal. Anything short of that would be a loss for us," Lueth said.
An Iowa native, Lueth is well aware of head coach Fran McCaffery’s winning tenure at Iowa.
“All my life I watched him, so it is really cool to come play for him," Lueth said.
McCaffery also speaks highly of Lueth not only as a player but as an individual.
“[Lueth is] really good, but he's going to continue to get better because he works, he’s smart, and his athletic ability helps him impact the game in a lot of different ways,” McCaffery said.
TJ Power
The most experienced of the new additions this season is Power. The Shrewsbury, Mass. native has been a part of two basketball programs in his first two years of college ball. Power spent his first year playing at Duke during its run to the Elite Eight alongside current Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain and his second year at Virginia. Power recognizes the differences between the Penn men’s basketball system and Virginia's.
“[Penn is] very different from Virginia. Virginia is … slower paced and very … defensive oriented. But here, [McCaffery] lets us play [with] a lot of freedom on offense," Power said. "We’ll be able to play really fast and shoot a lot of threes, and kind of keep teams on their heels at all times.”
While Power personally hopes "to win player of the year," he also recognizes that the team's win comes first. With his experience, skill, and now position as an upperclassman on the team, he hopes to lead by example. If there's anything he learned from playing at Duke, it's that "winning is the cure for everything...We have to picture ourselves getting into March Madness."
