July 29, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. ââ'¬" Jordan Dickerson, Devin Foster, Donovon Jack and Brandon Taylor will not be looking around for a veteran leader come October when the Nittany Lion basketball team begins official practice.
The group of 2015-16 seniors has already laid the groundwork in taking ownership of the Penn State program thanks to a productive summer season on and off the court.
"I think we've done a good job of establishing ourselves as the guys who set the tone for the younger players," Dickerson said. "We have a lot of new talent on the roster, and we are just trying to set an example to help these guys become contributors."
Dickerson and his fellow seniors pointed to team chemistry and hard work as the driving forces behind what has been a strong preliminary phase of the upcoming season.
"Everybody is working hard right now," Taylor said. "I couldn't ask for more. We need to keep getting better, and we all can't wait for the season."
"The seniors have stepped up to show that we can lead this team," Jack said. "We have really good team chemistry, and the guys have worked really hard. The guys have bought in completely, and it's one of the closest teams I've ever been on."
The good chemistry starts with how the group gets along outside of the gym.
"It begins in our locker room," Taylor said. "We are all friends. We go out to eat together. We go to the movies together. That's where the chemistry on the court starts. You get to know your teammate as more than a teammate."
On the court, the Nittany Lions want to play fast. With the new 30-second shot clock in place for the season, the team wants to get up and down the floor to create more scoring opportunities. So far, the players are encouraged by the results during summer workouts.
"I like the way we are playing," Taylor said. "We are getting the ball up and down the floor, and we are playing unselfish. Our guards can get rebounds and push the ball to get better shots."
The Lions are moving the ball to get better looks at the basket, passing up a good shot for a great shot. The unselfish approach on the offensive end of the floor lends itself to more productivity.
"We are learning that when someone has a good shot, someone else likely has a better shot," Jack said.
"And we are doing it in July. Guys are getting better shots because we have been unselfish," Taylor said. "That just proves we are becoming a better team."
The ball movement aids everyone on the floor, but for a guy like Dickerson, unselfish basketball puts a 7-footer in a great spot to have success around the basket when he moves swiftly up the floor. Dickerson remained on campus during both summer sessions, and he has worked tirelessly to get in better physical condition because he knows how much it can help the team succeed.
"My summer has been really good," Dickerson said. "I stayed both summer sessions. I think the group has worked extremely hard during both sessions to continue improving on and off the court. I think I play the best when I have a clear head and when I'm not fatigued on the court. It's my last year, so I'm just trying to be a force on the floor."
That could not have been more evident than during Tuesday's 5-on-5 workout when Dickerson dove for a loose ball on defense before earning a trip to the free throw line and sinking two foul shots on the offensive end of the floor.
"Those type of plays are very important for our team to be successful," Dickerson said. "I felt really good after that play. It boosts your energy. And if we play like that, we are going to have a very productive year."
Dickerson's off court development and efforts on the floor aren't going unnoticed by his teammates.
"He's working hard for us, and we have to work hard for him," Taylor said. "To see a 7-footer get on the floor, that's not easy for him. That was big for us to see. It makes everybody else want to get that much better."
A play like Dickerson's dive and subsequent free throws equate to tallies in the program's "Attitude Club". Hard work and a positive attitude are the pillars of Nittany Lion Basketball. And while it may only be July, the program's core values are alive and well.
"One thing we are focused on this year is that no matter what happens on the court, we are going to stay positive," Taylor said. "When things aren't going your way and you get negative, that's when you start losing things. We are going to stay positive and stay together."