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Penn State’s Abdou Tsimbila enters Transfer Portal … Cause, why not

By Evan Smith

Jan 19, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andre Curbelo (5) goes to the basket against Penn State Nittany Lions forward Abdou Tsimbila (C) and guard D.J. Gordon (23) during the second half at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2021; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini guard Andre Curbelo (5) goes to the basket against Penn State Nittany Lions forward Abdou Tsimbila (C) and guard D.J. Gordon (23) during the second half at the State Farm Center. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Abdou Tsimbila announced he was transferring from Penn State two months after Micah Shrewsberry was hired as Penn State Basketball’s new head coach.

Welp, stop me if you’ve heard this before.

Tsimbila is now joining Brockington as a VERY late transfer out of the program.  These are different transfers than Jamari Wheeler and Myreon Jones transfers, that happened just days after the Shrewsberry hire was announced.  Brockington actually re-upped with Shrewsberry before changing his mind weeks later.

Tsimbila never officially re-committed, but really surprised Nittany Nation with his announcement yesterday.  Like the other transfers, Abdou went out of his way to thank Coach Chambers, Ferry and Urgo by name.

Tsimbila may have only averaged 1.1 points and 1.6 rebounds but only played 4.6 minutes per game.  The Cameroon native came into the program incredibly raw and showed flashes with his athleticism and ability to alter opposing team shots.

The 2020-2021 iteration of the Nittany Lions really struggled with frontcourt depth as the only true big men were Harrar, Trent Buttrick and Tsimbila.

Well, now the 2021-2022 Lions are in even worse shape in the front court.  Shrewsberry was able to “re-recruit” Harrar but losing Buttrick to UMass and now Tsimbila leaves the front court with just John Harrar and juco transfer Jeavonnie Scott.

As is sadly becoming custom for the Lions, here is Penn State Basketball’s updated roster:

The relevant roster now looks like:

PG — Boogie Cornwall, Sam Sessoms

SG — Jalen Pickett

SF — Seth Lundy, Myles Dread

PF — Jevonnie Scott

C — John Harrar

Other reserves:  Daillon Johnson, Kyle McCloskey, Caleb Dorsey, Andy Christos, incoming three star recruit Elijah Hutchins-Everett.

This line-up is HEAVILY trusting transfers as 60% of the projected started line-up are new to the Nittany Lions and all three have little to no power 6 conference experience.  This incredibly thin line-up is in desparate need for another shooting guard and at least two more front court players.

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