Penn State basketball’s best player from the 2023-24 season has announced his future plans.
It’s been assumed for a while that Ace Baldwin would be coming back to Penn State for his final season of eligibility, and Baldwin confirmed that Friday afternoon.
Reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Ace Baldwin officially announces his return to Penn State.
Huge for the future of this program. https://t.co/SfvKKlYEE1
— Joe Smeltzer (@joesmeltzer775) May 24, 2024
Baldwin announced the news in creative fashion with a 29 second video.
The first part of the video was from a press conference given by then-LA Rams cornerback Marcus Peters during the 2018-19 NFL playoffs, in which Peters repeatedly said “I think we’re not done yet.”
The video then transitioned into 18 seconds of Baldwin’s highlights from last season, ending with big graphic that said “not done yet.”
For Penn State and its fans, Baldwin not being done is big news.
After three seasons at VCU— the last of which ended with Baldwin becoming the first player in A10 history to receiver player and defensive player of the year honors— Baldwin followed his coach, Mike Rhoades, to Happy Valley.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.With the previous year’s best Penn State player, Jalen Pickett, gone to the NBA, PSU and its fans expected Baldwin— who took over Pickett’s post as starting point guard— to become the team’s best player.
That’s exactly what happened.
Baldwin ended the season with solid offensive numbers, averaging more than 14 points and six assists per game. But it was on the other end of the floor where he had his biggest impact.
Baldwin became just the third player in Penn State history— Josh Reeves (2019) and Calvin Booth (1998).
His 2.71 steals per game were also the most by a Big Ten player since 1993.
Penn State finished 16-17 last season. The goal this year is to make it to the NCAA Tournament, and Baldwin’s return could go a long way towards doing that.
