Earlier this week we talked about what Penn State has to replace this year. We'll get into the new faces Ed DeChellis will ask to fill those minutes. But first, let's talk about what Penn State has coming back this year.

22 - Andrew Jones III (6-10, 245)

The evolution of Andrew Jones was a fun thing to watch last year. He started out with a rather insignificant stat line for a starter only managing five or six points and three or four rebounds per game. But by the time the NIT came around he was a dominating force on the hardwood. During the tournament he averaged 10 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Here is what I had to say after the Indiana game.

Andrew Jones has become a really solid player. He had a couple of boneheaded turnovers, but for the most part when he gets the ball in the low post good things happen. He finished the night 4-for-4 from the field, and get this: over his last eight games Jones has shot 21-of-27 (77%) from the field. He has shown a nice mid-range jumper to go along with the baby hook he's developing. And when an outside shooter pops open he's good at getting them the ball. I'm starting to think he may turn into a significant scoring threat next season when he gets some of Cornley's touches.

Penn State will look to Jones and his 6'10" 245 lb frame to provide a big presence in the paint this year.

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More photos » by Frank Franklin II - AP

7 months ago: Penn State's Jamelle Cornley (2) drives past Notre Dame's Zach Hillesland (33) during the first half of the NIT semifinal college basketball game on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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Who knew they played college basketball in November? It's true. I looked it up.

You have to forgive me. I'm just not used to this whole "basketball success" thing. Normally we don't pick up the basketball team until after the bowl season. And usually by that time we're already out of contention for any kind of post season play, so who cares anyway? But this year is different. This year the team is coming off of a thrilling NIT championship. Season ticket sales are at an all time high. We're in uncharted waters here as a program. I don't want to completely ignore the basketball team until January like years past. So this week I'm going to try to roll out a few preview posts. Today we'll start with going over what we have to replace. Then we will go into what is returning. Then I'll try to do a lengthier post on the new faces on the team. Maybe if I get some time next week we'll go into the schedule and I'll make an attempt to make some kind of prediction. So with that...

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Give me a point guard and a SIREN WHOOOOOO!!!

Ok, so how many of you saw the siren and ran out the door screaming "WHOOO WE JUST GOT SHARIFF FLOYD!!!"

No, actually this is a hoops siren, as Ed DeChellis just nailed down his first verbal commitment for the class of 2011 in Columbus, OH point guard Trey Burke. That's right, I said class of 2011. Mr. Burke hasn't even played his junior year of high school basketball yet.

Rivals rates Burke as a three star prospect and a Top 150 player. Scout rates him as a two star player. ESPN grades him an 88 and says some things.

August, 2009: Trey is a point guard who can break you down off the dribble with ease to score or create for teammates off his penetration. He is at his best shooting the basketball when he can use a high ball screen and shoot behind the screen. He has good vision and sees the floor well when he pushes the ball in transition. He uses a couple of dribbles to get his rhythm to attack the basket and get his shot ready to go. On defense, he has very quick hands and does an excellent job of defending the basketball using good angles and sliding his feet well to keep his man in front of him. He contests shots and blocks out on each possession.

He sounds like a Talor Battle clone. This is a good thing because 2011 will be the first season of the post-Battle era. What's up with recruiting all these kids so early in their high school career anyway? Ed shined some light on this during preseason media day.

Q: When you were hired you were talking about getting the program off the ground and back to the basics. A few years later are you there yet? Is there still more to go?

A: Well, I don't think as a coach you are ever satisfied. We want to make the NCAA Tournament and win the Big Ten Championships. We're so much further along then we were two years ago just because recruiting has been very good for us. We're now at the point where we're recruiting sophomores and juniors in high school on a consistent basis. We're done with the senior class, having had those kids visit campus. Now we can focus on the younger kids. I think, from that standpoint, we're way ahead.

It sounds kind of creepy, but that's the way the game is played today. The big programs are grabbing up these kids sometimes in the eighth grade. It used to be all Ed could hope for was to find a diamond in the rough, or a kid that suffered a knee injury his junior year and got looked over by the bigger schools. The NIT championship and all the exposure last year has opened doors to talk to some kids he never would have had a chance with before.

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More photos » by Ralph Wilson - AP

19 days ago: Tim Frazier looks to pass during practice at the Penn State preseason men's NCAA college basketball media day in State College, Pa. on Monday Oct. 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Ralph Wilson)

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Though we're in the thick of football season with big games against Michigan and Ohio State coming up, let's not forget about the other team that won our hearts last spring with an improbable run through the NIT tournament, the Nittany Lion men's basketball team. Yesterday was media day at the Bryce Jordan Center, so there is a lot to talk about the team today. Next week I plan on rolling out some preview posts of the team. It seems like a good time to do it since we're playing justNorthwestern. But for today here is a little basketball flavored Nitt Picks to get your mind thinking ahead.

The first thing you need to know is that thanks to the NIT run last spring, Ed DeChellis is rocking a three-year contract extension this fall. Cue the generic quote of endorsement from Athletic Department official.

"We are very excited about the significant progress our men's basketball program has made under Coach DeChellis and are thrilled that he will continue to lead the program into the future," athletic director Tim Curley said in a press release. "Ed and his staff have brought tremendous work ethic, passion and energy to the program and the Penn State basketball community."

There is no doubt that the excitement level for this team is higher than I have ever seen it in the preseason. Ticket sales are at an all-time high.  But some people debate whether Ed earned this extension. Afterall, in six years he has yet to take a Penn State team to the NCAA tournament. On the other hand, anyone can see that progress has been made and winning the NIT is more than anyone could have dreamed just three or four years ago. But this much is known: In order for Ed to get another extension in 2012, he will have to take this team to the next level. Now that he won the NIT, just going to the NIT isn't going to cut it anymore.

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I know we're inside of two weeks until football, but we're trying to push the idea that Penn State is more than just a football school around here. So we wouldn't be doing the men's basketball team justice if we didn't at least acknowledge that the university released the 2009-2010 schedule this week. Here's how it looks in table form.

So let's pick this thing apart and try to identify the pitfalls. We already gave our blessing to the out of conference schedule, so we'll talk about the conference slate that was released this week.

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More photos » by Frank Franklin II - AP

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Those of you who have been following closely already know that Talor Battle has been struggling to find his game in the World University Games. But today he broke out and showed the world what Penn State and Big Ten fans already know. When the game is on the line, Talor Battle will find a way to get it done.

Late in the fourth period, Team USA found themselves down by five points to the powerful Serbian team in front of their home crowd. Battle had two crucial three point shots to spark the 68-66 comeback victory to keep Team USA's perfect record in tact. Battle led all scorers with 17 points in the game.

"Early in the game, coach talked about coming off the ball screen," said Battle. "I was really trying to take my time and focus on getting that guy on my hip and then attacking. I got some easy baskets, and after a while, they started chasing and I was able to step back and hit some threes. I was just playing with a lot of confidence."

And of course, the world found out something else about Talor that we already know. He's not such a great foul shooter.

After both sides were unable to convert on possessions, Battle drove through a sea of defenders and was fouled going to the basket. With 11.6 seconds to play, Battle missed both of his shots.

Oh well. You know Battle doesn't play his best unless there is some drama involved. Hopefully he can bring home a gold medal. But leave the swine flu in Serbia, please.

According to the CDT, Penn State basketball verbal commit Taran Buie will be transferring to State College High School for his senior year.

Buie, who is a half-brother of Nittany Lion star Talor Battle, orally committed to play at Penn State in April.

Buie did not return several calls from the CDT on Tuesday night. His mother, Denise Murphy, told the Times Union that she and Taran are moving to State College, "where he will attend high school next year."

"I’ve heard the same thing," State College coach Drew Frank said Tuesday night. "I heard that the mom actually put a down payment on a property here in State College."

So all of you current students can go get an early look at our prized recruit this fall. We expect a full scouting report.

Gimme a multi-talented small forward and a glazed donut.  To go!

Say hello to Bill Edwards, Jr.

Edwards signed a letter of intent to continue his career at Penn State University. He announced his intention, this morning, May 5, at a ceremony in the high school media center. Edwards, a 6-foot-7 forward, also took official visits to Central Florida and Miami University before deciding on Penn State.

Edwards averaged 17.8 points per game this season, leading the Middies to a 19-3 record and top five state ranking. He shared player of the year honors in the Greater Miami Conference and was a first-team, All-Ohio selection.

FYI, Edwards' height is listed as anywhere between 6'4" and 6'7", depending on the source.  He comes from a rather accomplished basketball family.  Hid dad, Bill Sr., played at Wright State and spent a few of his son's early years playing in Europe:

Standing near the top of the key, Bill Jr. is an imposing presence. But he doesn't stay stationary. When he's not swishing 3s, he's driving into the lane, finishing with floaters, flipping two-handed, alley-oop passes to his teammates, firing bullet-passes on the money, and banging inside for stickbacks.

"People wonder the last couple years why we play him outside so much," Jemison said. "He's the best player we have at seeing the floor and seeing everybody. There's not many big guys who handle the ball as well as he does."

...

"I lived in France, Italy and Greece, and met all kinds of professional players like Peja Stojakovic (New Orleans Hornets) and Andrei Kirilenko (Utah Jazz). It was great growing up in a basketball background and being able to be around those guys."

Brian Snow of Rivals.com says, "He's real developed and very well-schooled. There's really nothing on the court he can't do. It's just that (scouts) want him to do it consistently, and he's finally doing it. He can shoot out to 3-point range, but is probably at his best going to the rim. He's very powerful and can really pass the ball. He's very smart. He knows to make the right pass and can handle the ball in space and under pressure. He can really just fill up a stat sheet."

ESPN's Scouts Inc. says, "July, 2008: Edwards had a great tournament (2008 Adidas Take Five), playing with consistent effort throughout the event. He demonstrated a willingness to help his team win and did whatever it took to be successful. This lefty has a nice set of skills beginning with his ballhandling. Edwards can take bigger, slower defenders off the dribble and get to the basket. He utilized his pull-up jumper in the lane as he attacked the basket. What really stood out is that he shot the ball well from the beyond the arc -- he also knocked down a few 3s in transition. If he sees a smaller defender on him, he will post him up and score. He is not afraid to go to the offensive glass and rebound. He also gets to the free-throw line for some of his points. Defensively, he has an understanding of help-side defense and will step in and take the charge. Edwards has great basketball genes; his dad Bill Edwards, Sr. was a great player at Wright State University. Edwards always needs to be aggressive on the court and play with intensity every possession. If he does that, he will reach his potential."