Lamar Stevens

Classroom

Lamar Stevens had the option to remain in the 2019 NBA Draft but opted to return to Penn State for his senior year. He placed a high priority on obtaining his bachelor’s degree in sociology. Lamar has a high interest in learning and he is on track to earn his diploma in four years.

During his academic career with a sport season that crosses both traditional academic semesters, Lamar has posted at least a 3.0 grade point average in two semesters.

Character

Stevens is an exceptional leader who encourages and supports his teammates and is an extension of the coaching staff on the floor. He embodies the core values of the program with humility, accountability, passion and gratitude. These qualities are supported by a positive attitude which carries his team on a journey of building something greater than themselves.

Stevens immediately earned a starting role as a freshman and did not have teammates able to provide guidance to him. Stevens took on that role confidently and has helped build a solid foundation for the Nittany Lions to follow over the last two years. A member of the program’s leadership council, Lamar provides advice and feedback to Coach Patrick Chambers on a wide range of items including issues college students face in their daily lives to plays and practice plans.

Stevens gives every ounce he has in his endeavors on the court, in the classroom, and in the community. He has helped the Penn State underclassmen understand what it takes to compete and succeed on the basketball court and to represent the Penn State men’s basketball program.

A high-level player coming out of high school, he had several scholarship offers and decided to forge a different and “unbeaten” path at Penn State. Basketball had not had a history of success at that point in time. His statistics stack up next to the best Nittany Lions of all time, while his leadership and commitment make him an MVP.

Community

Stevens participates in numerous community service events each year including youth basketball clinics. He helps children learn and participate in the game that he has grown to love. He is a “kid magnet” that gives as many high fives as he possibly can and stays after games to sign autographs and talk with fans. During previous summers, he has supported local youth basketball leagues to help grow the game in the area.

Throughout the year, Stevens volunteers his time as a speaker to different campus and community groups. With the men’s basketball team, Lamar has participated in State College area Down Syndrome Society Buddy Walk during all four of his years at Penn State. He is a companion of Samantha Urgo, daughter of associate head coach Keith Urgo, as well as a member of the “welcoming committee” at the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania Opening Ceremonies each summer.

In addition to events more closely tied to sports, Lamar was a volunteer for three years at the Centre County United Way “Day of Caring.” He served breakfasts to the 1,500 volunteers before they spent the day assisting non-profit agencies with improvement projects.

Competition

Stevens returns for his senior season as the top returning scorer (19.9 ppg) and rebounder (7.7 rpg) in the Big Ten Conference. A 2019 All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection, he scored in double figures in 31 games and has 33 career games with 20 or more points. He led the league in minutes played per game in 2018-19 (36.9) and has started all 104 games in three years.

He became the fastest Nittany Lion junior to score 1,500 points and is one of only six Penn State players with 1,500 points and 600 rebounds. Stevens currently ranks fifth on Penn State’s all-time scoring list and 16th on the all-time rebounds chart with 660. He needs one blocked shot to enter PSU’s top-10 list in that statistic.

As a sophomore in 2017-18, he helped guide the Nittany Lions to a National Invitation Tournament Title and a 26-13 record, the second-highest win total in Penn State history. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NIT, averaging 19.2 points per game in five victories with an average margin of victory of 10.4. He was the team’s second-leading scorer and rebounder as a freshman with 12.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game