One can still win awards for being short, says the NCAA.
A few weeks ago, Ohio State guard Scoonie Penn was named the winner of the 32nd Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award, honoring the nation's outstanding senior male collegian who is six feet tall or shorter. Penn is 5-foot-10. He is projected to be chosen somewhere in the first round of the upcoming NBA Draft June 28 in Minneapolis, MN.
Penn, who was named the 1999 Big Ten Player of the Year, played two seasons at Ohio State after transferring from Boston College after the 1996-97 season. In just two seasons at OSU, Penn made a significant dent in the record books, finishing his career first all-time in three-point field goals made (153) and attempted (437) and 33rd in scoring (1,076 points). Penn is the 38th player at the University to obtain 1,000 points, but the second to reach that plateau in just two seasons.
This past season, Penn averaged 15.6 points and 4.4 rebounds and scored in double figures in 26 of 30 games. He matched his career-high 30 points against NCAA champion Michigan State Feb. 15. A near-perfect passer and leader of the Buckeyes offense, Penn led OSU in assists 20 times and achieved a career-high 12 assists against Florida A&M Dec. 11.
As a junior, Penn was named the Big Ten Player of the Year and was a First Team All-Big Ten selection. He led the Buckeyes to the NCAA Final Four and was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA South Region. He led OSU in assists (154), steals (70), three-point field goals (88) and minutes played (1,247).
Penn is a native of Salem, Massachusetts.