6’10” 230-pound (down 30 pounds from his peak), Lower Merion Aces basketball star, Demetrius Lilley, announced via his Instagram Page that he has committed to attending and playing for Penn State, next year.
Last season, as a Junior, Lilley averaged 22.2 points and pulled down an average of 12.2 rebounds per game. In Lower Merion’s PIAA District 1 6A Championship win over Abington, Lilley scored 31 points. In the States, the Aces got as far as the semifinals, losing to Arch Bishop Wood, 72-68. Lilley scored 25 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in that game.
Ty Daubert, in City of Basketball Love wrote – “The beginning of summer, I started playing AAU,” Lilley said Friday. “I stopped playing AAU, just because I wanted to get my body right. Everybody thought it was a stupid decision … but it was crazy, because every college that was recruiting me in the moment told me it was a great idea.”
Penn State was one of those schools on board with his plan. Lilley played one tournament this summer with Philly Pride after playing most of his AAU career with DC Premier. The Nittany Lions program and others showed interest after seeing him with Philly Pride, but the offers Lilley desired weren’t on the table.
That’s when he decided to put all his effort into getting in better shape. Lilley improved his diet, worked on speed and agility and began lifting weights regularly for the first time. The 6-foot-9 center strived to put himself in a position to be more versatile and dynamic on the court.
Westtown Star, Jameel Brown also headed to Penn State
Penn State’s rookie coach, Micah Shrewsbury, previously nabbed another Main Line standout, Jameel Brown. Brown played two stellar seasons for Haverford School. Last year, as a Junior, he transferred to Westtown. Brown is considered to be a “Top 100” recruit.
Demetrius Lilley in 2019, before he lost his “baby fat.”