Ace Baldwin Jr. Lands on Watchlist for Naismith Player of the Year

The Atlanta Tipoff Club announced Wednesday afternoon that Penn State graduate student Ace Baldwin Jr. has been named to the 2024-25 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Men’s Player of the Year Watchlist.

Makin’ noise 🗣️ @yeah_ace3#WeArePennState | https://t.co/mYHuADMW4R pic.twitter.com/ClgSYrLv9i

— Penn State Men’s Basketball (@PennStateMBB) October 30, 2024

The Player of the Year Award is “presented annually to the most outstanding men’s and women’s basketball player who achieves tremendous on-court success,” according to the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Baldwin is entering his fifth year as the only active Division I player with career totals of 1,297 points, 618 assists and 271 steals. He’s coming off a phenomenal senior campaign in which he averaged a career-high in points (14.2), assists (6.0) and steals (2.7). His 88 total steals ranked fifth in the nation and earned him Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

Nittany Lions Have an Ace (Baldwin Jr.) up Their Sleeve | Meet the Pride

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During the 2023-24 season, Baldwin recorded three double-doubles, 10 plus games of four or more steals and finished second all-time in program single-season assists (199). He led Penn State in scoring nine times, assists 27 times and eclipsed the 20-point mark six times.

Baldwin’s impact on winning was apparent all last season. In the games he surpassed 20 points, the Nittany Lions went 5-1, including an upset victory over No. 11 Wisconsin. On a per 100 possessions basis, Penn State outscored their opponents by six points, ranking in the 85^th percentile in the conference.

In addition to being named to the Men’s Player of the Year Watchlist, Baldwin also landed on the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Preseason Watchlist and was a Preseason All-Big Ten selection.

The full list of 50 players on the Player of the Year Preseason Watchlist can be found here.

Penn State will begin its season at home against the Binghamton Bearcats on Monday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern in the Bryce Jordan Center.