Penn State basketball coach Mike Rhoades and his staff have implemented a motivational piece to their offseason workouts.
It’s called ‘The Wild Lion Of The Week,’ and Week #6 has just concluded.
This weekly award is given to a player who has stood out in team and individual competitions as well as dominating the details in all areas of performance every week.
The recipients are also given a PSU championship-style belt to serve as a celebratory trophy. This offseason, there have been three players to receive this honor so far. Mason Blackwood, a 6′-7″ freshman forward, earned the title after Week 1. Dominick Stewart, a 6′-5″ sophomore guard, earned the belt after Week 2. After Weeks 3 and 4, 6′-5″ redshirt junior guard Freddie Dilione V wore the Wild Lion Belt, and Blackwood has earned the title back after standing out in Weeks 5 and 6. Blackwood has been the ‘The Wild Lion Of The Week’ 50% of the time so far this offseason. Not bad for a freshman trying to chisel out a role on this year’s team.
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Blackwood’s hometown is Rochester, New York. Per 247Sports, the 6′-7″ four-star forward was nationally overall ranked No. 108 coming out of the state of New Hampshire. He played his first two seasons of high school ball for the Aquinas Institute of Rochester and then finished his high school years playing for the New Hampton Prep School in New Hampshire. Blackwood also played AAU ball with the Albany City Rocks in Nike’s EYBL league. During AAU, he averaged 12.6 ppg. and 6.4 rpg. with a 49.7% field goal percentage and shot 45.3% from 3-point range.
Blackwood has a great opportunity to earn a strong role on this year’s team. Only three Penn State basketball players are returning from last year’s squad. By the sounds of it, Blackwood is taking advantage of every opportunity in front of him so far.
