Penn State basketball star explains delayed return announcement

Mike Rhoades received a significant boost heading into year two at the helm of the Penn State basketball program when Nittany Lions star guard Ace Baldwin decided to return for the 2024-25 season. However, with the decision not made public until late May, Baldwin’s official announcement didn’t come until the wheels had long been set in motion for his final year in Happy Valley.

The timing begs the question, what exactly took so long? Penn State’s season ended with a loss to Indiana in the Big Ten Tournament on March 14. The NBA Draft and NCAA transfer portal deadlines came and went on April 27 and May 1, respectively, without any word from the Nittany Lions star.

Still, Baldwin didn’t announce his return until May 24.

On Thursday, Baldwin provided insight into the timing of his announcement, explaining that he was “always” coming back to Penn State and that he didn’t want to leave Mike Rhoades. The delay then, says the fifth-year star, was all in good fun.

“I just wanted to troll a little,” Baldwin said, captured by PennLive’s Max Ralph. “That’s just me. I like to play around a little.”

Ace Baldwin said he was “always” coming back to Penn State during a lengthy offseason decision process. Didn’t want to leave Mike Rhoades. So why wait to announce?

“I just wanted to troll a little. That’s just me I like to play around a little” pic.twitter.com/4kXJuSPBkn

— Max Ralph (@maxralph_) July 18, 2024

Penn State basketball turning to Baldwin for leadership in 2025

Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Ace Baldwin had a standout first season for Penn State basketball in 2023-24. The Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and Naismith National Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist, the VCU transfer averaged 2.67 steals per game – the most by a single player in the conference in 31 years.

Baldwin filled a vital role on the other end of the court following Kanye Clary’s dismissal from the program. The Nittany Lion guard averaged 14.2 points per game and scored double-digit points 27 times on the year.

Baldwin finished last season as the only active Division I player with 1,000+ career points, 600+ career assists, and 250+ career steals.

Mike Rhoades will turn to Baldwin this winter to provide leadership and stability to a roster that again experienced considerable turnover. Including Clary, Penn State basketball lost five players to the portal this spring. Rhoades countered with a top-50 portal class of his own and a top-25 recruiting class in the 2024 cycle.

Baldwin is one of five Nittany Lions returning from last year’s roster for 2024-25. All seniors, this core group of veterans, will be called up to settle the foundation of the blue-collar Penn State basketball program established by Rhoades in year one.

The first known matchup for Penn State basketball this season is the Hall of Fame Series against Virginia Tech in Baltimore, Maryland, on November 15.

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