Penn State Basketball 2017-18 Player Profile: Trent Buttrick

A recurring theme you may have noticed from our player previews thus far, is how Penn State lacked depth in certain positions last season. The small/power forward spot is no exception, but perhaps Trent Buttrick could be the guy who fills the void for the Nittany Lions this upcoming season.

What He Did Last Year

The Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania native spent his last two years of high school playing ball at the Community School of Naples in Naples, Florida. A 6’8” 210-pound small forward/power forward, Buttrick wasn’t even listed on the main recruiting services. To say that his commitment to Penn State this past February came out of nowhere would be doing a great disservice to the word ‘nowhere.’

However, a look at the below highlight reel from his senior year of high school showcases a kid who displays the ability to run the floor, block shots, and take it to the hoop. He also for good measure, displays the ability to knock down three-pointers, which is a big reason why his position is described as a ‘stretch-four.’ According to MaxPreps, Buttrick averaged a double-double last season with 18.2 points and 10.8 rebounds per game, as well as a block-and-a-half, to boot.

What To Expect This Year

Given the softer non-conference schedule compared to years past, there’s a chance Trent will get to log more minutes than a true freshman like him typically would, which could pay dividends down the line. The best-case scenario for him this season is if he can serve a role as someone who can come off the bench and provide a few quality minutes while Lamar Stevens takes a much-needed breather.