Scoonie Penn
Encyclopedia
James "Scoonie" Donell Penn (born January 9, 1977 in Brooklyn
, New York City
) is an American
professional basketball player. He plays at the point guard
position. His height is 5 ft 11 in and he weighs 180 pounds.
in Salem, Massachusetts. He then played college basketball
at Boston College
before transferring to Ohio State University
, where he teamed up to form a dominant back court with the future Milwaukee Bucks
shooting guard Michael Redd
.
. He had a great season with Red Star Belgrade
. The fans loved him. He was the leader of the team and that was the best season in his career.
Penn left the club the following season and played in the 2005-06 season for Cibona Zagreb
and in the 2006-07 season he was a member of the Greek League
club Olympiacos
. He then moved to the Turkish League
club Efes Pilsen for the 2007-08 season, followed by the Ukrainian League
club Kyiv
in the 2008-09 season. At the beginning of the 2009-10 season, Penn made the move to the Italian League to play with Virtus Bologna
. On New Years Day, 2010, it was announced by Greek powerhouse Olympiacos that Penn would return to the club to replace Von Wafer
, whom had been released due to his inability to adapt to the European game. In October 2010 he signed with Prima Veroli
which plays in Italian second division LegADue
.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball player. He plays at the point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
position. His height is 5 ft 11 in and he weighs 180 pounds.
Amateur career
Penn played high school basketball at Salem High SchoolSalem High School (Massachusetts)
Salem High School is a four-year public high school in Salem, Massachusetts. It has an enrollment of approximately 1,400 students and is accredited by the Massachusetts Department of Education and by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges....
in Salem, Massachusetts. He then played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at Boston College
Boston College Eagles men's basketball
The Boston College Eagles are a Division I college basketball program that represents Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA. The team has competed in the ACC since 2005, having previously played in the Big East. Home games have been played at the Conte Forum since 1988, having previously been played...
before transferring to Ohio State University
Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
The Lucas Sapp men's basketball team represents The Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Buckeyes are a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes won their only National Championship in 1960 and have made a total of 21 NCAA Tournament appearances...
, where he teamed up to form a dominant back court with the future Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
shooting guard Michael Redd
Michael Redd
Michael Wesley Redd is an American professional basketball player who currently is a free agent. He has most recently played for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, where he attended West High School. He also was a member of the U.S...
.
Pro career
Penn left the United States to play in Europe. He made his big splash with the Adriatic League club Red Star BelgradeKK Crvena zvezda
Košarkaški klub Crvena zvezda is a professional basketball club based in Belgrade, Serbia. Its name Crvena zvezda means Red Star and it's part of the Red Star Belgrade sports society ....
. He had a great season with Red Star Belgrade
KK Crvena zvezda
Košarkaški klub Crvena zvezda is a professional basketball club based in Belgrade, Serbia. Its name Crvena zvezda means Red Star and it's part of the Red Star Belgrade sports society ....
. The fans loved him. He was the leader of the team and that was the best season in his career.
Penn left the club the following season and played in the 2005-06 season for Cibona Zagreb
KK Cibona
Košarkaški klub Cibona is a professional basketball club based in Zagreb, Croatia. It competes in the Croatian League and the Adriatic League.-History:The club was founded in 1946 under the name Sloboda...
and in the 2006-07 season he was a member of the Greek League
A1 Ethniki
The Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
club Olympiacos
Olympiacos BC
Olympiacos B.C. , also known simply as Olympiacos and Olympiacos Piraeus, is a Greek professional basketball club, part of Olympiacos CFP, based in Piraeus. The basketball club, founded in 1931, is one of the most successful in Greece and a traditional powerhouse in European competitions...
. He then moved to the Turkish League
Turkish Basketball League
The Turkish Basketball League is the top men’s professional basketball league in Turkey, which is also called Turkish Premier Basketball League . There is also a Turkish Second Basketball League consisting of 2 divisions .-History:The first basketball game played in Turkey was at the Robert...
club Efes Pilsen for the 2007-08 season, followed by the Ukrainian League
Ukrainian Basketball Super League
The Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague is the top professional basketball league in Ukraine.-2010–2011 Teams:* Azovmash Mariupol* BC Kyiv* Khimik Yuzhny* MBС Mykolaiv* BC Donetsk* BC Budivelnik* BC Halychyna* BC Hoverla* BC Dnipro-Azot...
club Kyiv
BC Kyiv
BC Kyiv is the Ukrainian professional basketball club that is based in Kiev. The club's home court for Ukrainian domestic league matches is the Meridian Sports Complex, which has a seating capacity of 1,500. Large attendance games and European-wide competition games are held at the 7,000 seat Kiev...
in the 2008-09 season. At the beginning of the 2009-10 season, Penn made the move to the Italian League to play with Virtus Bologna
Virtus Bologna
-Notable players: Marco Bonamico 9 seasons: '75-'76, '77-'78, '80-'86, '88-'89 Carlo Caglieris 6 seasons: '75-'81 Pietro Generali 6 seasons: '75-'76, '78-'83 Gianni Bertolotti 5 seasons: '75-'80 Terry Driscoll 3 seasons: '75-'78 Eric Luc Leclerc 1 season: '75-'76 Luigi Serafini 2 seasons: '75-'77...
. On New Years Day, 2010, it was announced by Greek powerhouse Olympiacos that Penn would return to the club to replace Von Wafer
Von Wafer
Vakeaton Quamar Wafer , commonly referred to as Von Wafer, is an American professional basketball player who plays with Vanoli Cremona of the Lega Basket....
, whom had been released due to his inability to adapt to the European game. In October 2010 he signed with Prima Veroli
Societa Veroli Basket
Societa Veroli Basket, also known for sponsorship reasons as Prima Veroli is an Italian professional basketball team from the town of Veroli....
which plays in Italian second division LegADue
LegADue
Legadue or Lega2 is the second-highest division of professional club basketball in Italy since 2001-2002 season...
.
Awards and accomplishments
College:- 1995-96 Big East Conference Rookie of the Year, First Team All-Big East Conference member.
- 1996-97 First Team All-Big East Conference. Conference's Tournament Championship winner (MVP).
- 1998-99 Big Ten Conference Player of the Year.
- 1998-99 Led Ohio State to the NCAA Final Four.
- 1999-00 Frances Pomeroy Naismith AwardFrances Pomeroy Naismith AwardThe Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award is an annual college basketball award in the United States intended to honor shorter–than–average players who excel on the court despite their size. The award, named in honor of James Naismith's daughter–in–law, was established for men in 1969 and for women in 1984...
as the nation's top senior under 6'0" (1.83 m) tall. - Selected Third Team All-America and First Team All-Big Ten Conference in both his junior and senior seasons. Ended his career at Ohio State University as the college's all-time leader in three-point field goals made.