Wheeler anxious to begin PSU career

The Rock School point guard Jamari Wheeler received a full release from his signed national letter of intent to play for Duquesne on March 30.

He’d get an offer from the Penn State coaching staff later that day, along with a host of other offers and interest from schools across the country.

By the end of April, Wheeler chose the Nittany Lions and is now expected to sign his letter of intent today.

“I love the basketball program, I love the coaching staff and the players, and all the academics and the alumni they have,” Wheeler said. “It's a great set-up for me as a basketball player and as a student.”

The first commitment for the Nittany Lions in the wake of three transfers from the program this offseason that included Payton Banks, Isaiah Washington and backup point guard Terrence Samuel, Wheeler’s proved to be an important one for head coach Patrick Chambers and the Penn State program.

In the absence of Samuel, who disappeared from the lineup down the season’s stretch, the Nittany Lions were poised to enter the offseason without a third point guard behind Tony Carr and Shep Garner. Swooping in for Wheeler, the Nittany Lions would have to beat out the likes of Seton Hall, Auburn, VCU, JMU, and South Florida, among others that also offered.

Joking that his previous commitment to Duquesne signified his willingness to make his new home in a climate much different from Gainesville, Fla., Wheeler later made trips to Penn State on April 21-22 and Seton Hall on April 26, canceling a planned trip to Auburn.

The Penn State visit, his first to the school, offered up the experiences he was looking to see.

“It was my first time on the official visit. I loved it,” he said. “It was nice and everybody was friendly. I loved the support for the academics. It's a nice school and so clean - the air and everything, it was nice.

“It just had a family environment. Everybody gets along, everybody jokes around. The players and coaches relationships that were already up there. I liked it there, and the coaching relationships outside just basketball.”

By Friday of last week, April 28, Wheeler made the call for the Nittany Lions.

Poised to join the Nittany Lion program this summer, the next questions regard the impact he’ll be able to make.

Noting that he’s a true point guard who has experience as a captain and leader, Wheeler chose his toughness and ability to do “all the little things” well as differentiating him as a player.

Still, describing himself as 6-foot-1, 165-170 pounds at the moment, Wheeler also noted he’d like to make gains in the weight room to reach 185 pounds. Regardless, his mindset is now wholly on joining his new program to get started.

“I want to just come in, just help the team win,” he said. “Do my role the best I can to bring that toughness and energy. I am very excited to get started.”