Penn State Men’s Basketball: Nittany Lions Add Temple Transfer Zach Hicks

Newly minted Penn State men’s basketball coach Mike Rhoades added another transfer portal acquisition to the Nittany Lions’ 2023-24 roster on Thursday afternoon as former Temple forward Zach Hicks announced his transfer destination.

As a freshman in 2021-22, the 6-foot-7 Hicks appeared in 28 of the Owls’ 29 games while averaging 21.4 minutes, 8.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per game. He also led the Owls in three-pointers over the course of his freshman campaign. Of note, Hicks recorded 10 triples in Temple’s December 2021 contest against Delaware State to break the school record and surpass the most three-pointers by a Division I freshman since 2018.

In Hicks’ second year in Philadelphia, he started in and appeared in all 32 of the Owls’ matchups. The sophomore shot 35.1% from three and averaged 9.6 points, 1.6 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game. Comparatively, Hicks made 80 shots from beyond the arc last season, 12 fewer than now former Nittany Lion Seth Lundy did over the same span. Hicks attempted 225 shots from range compared to Lundy’s 230.

Hicks come to Penn State as the third transfer portal addition under Rhoades so far joining VCU transfers Ace Baldwin Jr. and Nick Kern. He also leaves a Temple program that was recently taken over by former Penn State associate head coach Adam Fisher.