Actions have consequences: 4 Penn State Basketball starters enter Transfer Portal

Four Penn State Basketball stars entered the transfer portal, hours after Micah Shrewsberry was announced as head coach.

Within 12 hours of announcing their new head coach, Penn State Basketball starting Point Guard Jamari Wheeler, starting SF Izaiah Brockington, starting Center John Harrar, starting SG Myreon Jones and back-up center Trent Buttrick have all entered the transfer portal, per sources.

Since the NCAA announced the 2020-2021 year would be a “free year”, any player can transfer without sitting out a year and all seniors could return for a “fifth year” of eligibility.  With just one incoming recruit signed (apparently by Jim Ferry) and 5 seniors (including Buttrick, McCloskey and Nussbaum), the roster would be short quite a few players.

And what could be better than keeping your Honorable Mention All Big Ten player in John Harrar and the First-Team Defense All Big Ten player in Jamari Wheeler? And Izaiah Brockington provided Penn State some sorely needed slashing ability and a silky jumper reminiscent of Lamar Stevens.  Buttrick provided much needed depth down low defensively and a three pointer on offense. And Jones was by far the team’s best shooter and leading scorer, also earning Honorable Mention All-BIg Ten.

Frankly, if Penn State Basketball could bring back their entire roster, they’d likely be a bubble team in 2021-2022 with just a little bit of luck.

But, that’s not the way it’s going to happen for the Lions.

Reports are Harrar entered the transfer portal seemingly just minutes after Penn State made the Shrewsberry hire official and Wheeler, Brockington, Jones and Buttrick followed suit shortly thereafter.

All five players were very close to Pat Chambers, with John Harrar stating that Pat Chambers was like a father figure who’d be invited to his wedding.  Jamari Wheeler was actually cut off by members of the Penn State staff during their pre-season media day after stating :

"“It was hard because earlier that day, before he announced it … We have a private meeting with a couple staff members that’s up above and we were told that everything was good.”And Brockington added: “I was shocked and hurt by the decision that (was) made but as a team, we are all committed to this season…as a team, we decided we want to play this season out for Coach (Chambers) and for each other.  It was shocking, it was emotional, but he left us with the message to stick together at the end of the day.”"

Sadly, actions have consequences and the administration is so desperately trying to turn the page from the Chambers era as quickly as possible just cost the 2021-2022 team two of their best players.

Micah Shrewsberry now has to work very quickly to ensure everyone else (like Seth Lundy and Myles Dread) don’t also transfer.

Wait, he’s (correctly) finishing the season with Purdue in the NCAA Tournament:

So, why did Penn State have to announce this hire the second the season was over?

Was it so important to the administration to end the Chambers and Ferry influence that it was worth potentially not playing in the NIT?

Either way, as usual, the players were caught completely off guard and yesterday, it appears they showed their final disapproval, once and for all.

We wish both John Harrar, Jamari Wheeler, Izaiah Brockington, Myreon Jones and Trent Buttrick nothing but the best in their next endeavor and if either choose to go to a school that plays at the Bryce Jordan Center this season, we will be standing in applause as each gave everything they had for Penn State Basketball.  Thank you, John, Jamari, Izaiah, Myreon and Trent.