Pat Chambers and Penn State basketball got some good news Thursday night when Brandon Austin, a junior wing at Imhotep Charter School in Philadelphia, committed to the Nittany Lions. Austin is the second commit in the 2013 class for PSU, who also landed a verbal from Pittsburgh (Shaler Area) point guard Geno Thorpe back in November.
Austin’s choice to stay in-state is huge for Penn State, as the junior held offers Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee, and Miami. It is crucial to Penn State’s turnaround that they bring in big players that can contribute right away. It is also important for Chambers to keep Penn State in the mind of the top Pennsylvania recruits. Landing Austin and Geno Thorpe, who chose State over the likes of Kansas State, Seton Hall, Wisconsin and in-state rival Pittsburgh, is a great start to locking down the borders a bit and rebuilding Penn State basketball. Rivals currently ranks Thorpe as the #135 prospect in the 2013 class.
The Nittany Lions have had a rough start to the Chambers-era on the court, but in recruiting the new head coach is already paying dividends. Coach Chambers brought in a 2012 class headlined by power forward Brandon Taylor from Trenton Catholic Academy in New Jersey. Taylor, who chose the Nits over Miami, Temple, Richmond and South Florida, could make an immediate impact next season in State College.
The Windy City Source will continue to provide updates on Brandon Austin, and all other B1G and local prospects and recruits, throughout his prep career.
credit: teamphillybasketball.com
