The University of Pennsylvania “Penn” Quakers have won the Ivy league (25) times. The Philadelphia (Pa.) squad has qualified for NCAA Tournament (23) times and through its (110+) years of organized basketball has secured (1676) victories against (986) defeats. Impressive stuff. Now, go ask the average Southern California High school basketball recruit to name his favorite Quaker and get back to me after his blank stare subsides. Not only are Ivy League schools renowned for providing elite education, they are also widely recognized for a slow-down, methodic style of half-court centric basketball, and winning teams scoring in the 50pt range much more frequently than in the 70pt range. Although that recipe had led to consistent albeit somewhat mitigated success for the Quakers, it has rarely attracted caught the eye of West Coast hoopers. Penn head Coach Jerome Allen and staff are working to change some of the less positive perceptions, and landing the services of ’12 3-Star Julian Harrell(Loyola High, Ca.) is a step in that direction.(more…)
