Hoops and Heart: The Rise of Penn State Wilkes-Barre Men's Basketball
By: Carrie Miner Yaple | Sportzwire | August 6, 2024 | Photo courtesy Carrie Miner Yaple
As the season is set to unfold, Head Coach LeShawn Hammett and the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Men's Basketball team are poised to defend their crown with tenacity and ambition. Resilience and unity have characterized the journey of this program thus far and are a testament to their commitment to excellence on and off the court. With a roster filled with talent and a coaching staff dedicated to nurturing that potential, the team is not merely aiming for another championship, they are setting the stage for the legacy of success to continue.
In the world of sports, the journey from legacy to victory is often paved with the grit and determination of new recruits who embody the spirit of resilience. This intersection of past triumphs and present aspiration is where teams forge their identities, drawing strength from the legacies of those who came before them while simultaneously embracing the fresh perspectives that newcomers bring. Coach Hammett believes his recruits are mature and experienced trusting they will compliment the returning Mountain Lion players. Some of the players joining the PSWB Mountain Lion squad this year are 2-time All-Americans, Chris Killings and Jeremiah Miller, D2 Mansfield University transfer DaShon Lewis, Neymier Brooks, a 6'8'' transfer from Bryan & Stratton, and Willie Anderson, an NAIA transfer, and John Hardy, a D1 transfer from Hampton University. The recruits will join returning PSWB players, Anton Berga, who is set to have a breakout year, Jedidiah Ashton, eyed as possibly the best forward in the nation, Dennis Cash, Elijah Perez, and LJ Hammett.
Coach Hammett began his Penn State Wilkes-Barre basketball career in the 2015-2016 season. He currently has a 165/71 overall record, with a 104/39 PSUAC record. He will be joined alongside his returning coaching staff, Mike Riddle, Ray Harris, and Javin Mitchell. They will be challenged early with three D1 schools on their schedule; Norfolk State, Townsend University, and Delaware State University. Hammett credits his father, Leroy Hammett who passed away in 2020, with his drive, motivation, dedication, faith and success. He was on the coaching staff where you would find him sitting on his stool at the start of the bench, always with a soft spoken and gentle spirit, loved and respected by all the players.
The defending champs are excited for the season ahead. They have three National Championships under the guidance of Coach Hammett, first one in 2019 and back-to-back chips in 2023 and 2024. In 2024, the team went into the USCAA National Championship quest as a #10 seed, unusual for their program. They went on to beat all the teams they faced, including the three best teams in the tournament and were ultimately crowned as National Champs. With a new school year and new season set to begin, there is no doubt they will be ready to defend their crown when the first buzzer sounds.
