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Newbill raising profile of Penn Statehoops

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BY JOHN McGONIGAL, Daily News Staff Writer mcgonij@phillynews.comPOSTED: December 19, 2014

STATE COLLEGE - For the first time in quite some time, Penn Statebasketball has more than just a pulse; it's an able-bodied citizen in thecollege basketball community.

The Nittany Lions are 10-1, heading into Saturday's 2 p.m. game withDrexel at Allentown's PPL Center.

Their outstanding record wouldn't be that way without one man liftingthe Lions into college-hoops relevancy.

A veteran, crafty guard from Strawberry Mansion High, senior D.J.Newbill has given a success-starved fan base hope. And he's doingthat on a nightly basis after wrestling with years of adversity.

Newbill has been lights out this year. Currently, the 6-4, slashing ball-handler is averaging 21.9 points per game, good for ninth nationally.Earlier in the season, Newbill ranked as high as third.

That, for the most part, is unheard of for a Penn State basketballplayer. But is Newbill checking the national scoring ranks?

"Nah," Newbill said. "I'm more focused on getting wins."

And with him playing a Big Ten-leading 38.3 minutes per game, it's anunderstatement to say he's a major factor in those wins.

It's not even just the scoring; Newbill also is averaging 5.3 reboundsand 3.0 assists per game.

"He's got to continue doing it all," said head coach Patrick Chambers,a Newtown Square native. "That's what this team needs from him."

This isn't the first successful season for Newbill, but the journey to gethere hasn't been the easiest.

Coming out of high school, the Philly guard was supposed to play atMarquette; that is, until then-coach Buzz Williams pulled hisscholarship in the 11th hour, forcing Newbill to look for other options.

He went to play for a different set of Golden Eagles at Southern Miss,where he earned Conference USA All-Freshman honors.

But Newbill wanted to play closer to home, which is why he transferredto Penn State. After sitting out a year per NCAA rules, he was eager tostart the 2012-13 season.

Then, on Sept. 15, 2012, Newbill's mother, Tawanda Roach, passedaway after a short battle with cancer.

Newbill fought throughout the year - a campaign that saw fellow starguard Tim Frazier suffer a season-ending injury in the opening weeks.

In Frazier's absence, the tattooed, hard-nosed guard had to make aleap, both on the court and personally. And he did.

Newbill led the Lions in scoring and leadership, and the ups-and-downsof that season have primed him for the present and what's ahead.

"I'm older, wiser and better," Newbill said.

Newbill's prolific scoring is being met with added defensive pressure.But compared to his past, the increased attention on him, filled withhigh traps and double-teams, seems like nothing.

Chambers said Newbill is handling the success "like a mature man."

"You can see, he's getting a little frustrated," Chambers said. "But he'sholding it together."

It's not just Chambers who sees what Newbill has accomplished in spite of a mounting offensive burden.

Junior forward Brandon Taylor, a Tabernacle, N.J., native, is one of Newbill's roommates and closest friends. Taylor, who spent the

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offseason with Newbill coming to the gym early and staying late, said he isn't surprised at all by his teammate's surge ofproductivity.

"He's pretty much unguardable," Taylor said. "Even if he starts with two points in the first half, he'll finish with 25. He's playing atan unbelievable level."

Newbill said it feels good to know that the hard work put in with Taylor and others over the past few months has paid off.

But the seasoned senior knows there's still plenty of games left on this year's slate. The Lions have the entire Big Ten conferenceschedule ahead of them, along with two more nonconference contests.

Newbill's rise into the upper echelon of players nationally undoubtedly has been an extraordinary way to start the season.

But for the Lions to keep winning, and raising the profile of Penn State basketball, Newbill must carry on with what he's beendoing non-stop in recent years: persevering.

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MrPhillie • 5 months ago

Saw several games over the last few years including in person and Newbill looks strong and smooth. Willhave to improve his perimeter scoring to play at next level, I think. But he looks confident, not cocky. Hopehe does well.

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Jordan11 • 5 months ago

Nice article. Would be nice to see PSU become both a football + basketball school. Hopefully this is thestart of it, go PSU!

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