Former standout Penn State basketball guard Ace Baldwin Jr. has signed with the Memphis Grizzlies for the NBA summer league.
Baldwin finished his stellar college career as just one of five Division 1 players since the 1947-48 season with 1,700+ points (1,716), 300+ career steals (342), and 800+ career assists (831). His 342 steals by the end of last season was tied for 15th-most all-time by an NCAA Division 1 player.
Baldwin also earned honors during his collegiate career being named two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2024, 2025), two-time All-Big Ten selection (2024, 2025), three-time NABC All-District selection (2023, 2024, 2025), Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, and a two-time All-Atlantic 10 pick in 2022 and 2023.
As a graduate student last season, Baldwin averaged 14 points, 7.1 assists and 2.37 steals per game. These numbers made him one of just two players in the country to tally 14+ points, 7.0+ assists and 2.0+ steals per game. Not only did he earn Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors again, Baldwin also was a Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Top 10 Finalist, on the Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year Watch List, a Lefty Driesell Defensive Player of the Year Finalist and All-Big Ten Honorable Mention.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Before making his way to Happy Valley, Baldwin played his first 3 years of college ball for VCU in the Atlantic 10 Conference. At that time, Mike Rhoades was VCU’s head coach. When Rhoades found his new home in State College, Baldwin followed suit. During his time at VCU, Baldwin had three solid years with accolades. He scored a total of 829 points (10.4 PPG), dished out 419 assists (5.2 APG), and had 183 steals (2.3 SPG). He also helped VCU to two NCAA Tournaments and one NIT appearance during his time at VCU.
Baldwin becomes the third Penn State basketball player to sign with an NBA squad this year. His former teammate Yanic Konan Niederhauser was drafted #30 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers and Zach Hicks signed with the Boston Celtics for NBA summer league.
