John Harrar returns to Penn State Basketball

John Harrar is “running it back” one more time in Happy Valley, according to Jon Rothstein, returning a major piece of Penn State Basketball’s roster.

The final Nittany Lion in the Transfer Portal, John Harrar kept his cards close to his vest since the 2020-2021 season came to a close in the Big Ten Tournament.

While close friends Jamari Wheeler and Myreon Jones announced their departure (along with Trent Buttrick and Pat Kelly), the front court depth on the 2021-2022 roster had virtually depleted.  The only true big man currently on the roster is true sophomore Abdou Tsimbila, who averaged just 4.6 minutes in 16 games last year.

Harrar returning, along with Izaiah Brockington and Seth Lundy, gives the Lions a bonafide conference performer at the starting center position.  Hopefully a full off-season of practicing can allow Tsimbila to grow under Harrar, much like John did under former Nittany Lion big man Mike Watkins.

Ohio State, who already took Jamari, was very interested in John Harrar but announced their signing of the Indiana Hoosier big man, Joey Brunk, who was a target of Micah Shrewsberry.  Sure current OSU HC Chris Holtmann coached Brunk back at Butler, but let’s compare Brunk to Harrar, with Brunk’s stats listed first:

Points: 5.6 vs 4.4

Rebounds: 3.5 vs 4.6

Assists: .6 vs 1.3

FG%: 56.1% vs 56.1%

FT%: 57.6% vs 68.9%

Given Brunk coming off a back injury and Harrar averaging 8.8 points and 8.8 rebounds last year…I think Shrewsberry got the better of Holtzmann on this one.

Welcome back John Harrar, we can’t wait to see you in the BJC this fall!