By: John Knebels -(photos by Aaron Mitchell & Mike Nance)
PHILADELPHIA –The game had been over for about five minutes, but the University of Pennsylvania basketball players remained on the floor.
It’s not every day that you celebrate a Big 5 championship, especially when you finish 4-0 against the likes of Villanova, Temple, St. Joseph’s, and La Salle. But after the Quakers dispatched pesky St. Joe’s, 78-70, on January 26 at the Palestra, that’s precisely what Penn accomplished.
Penn wins Big Five title after defeating St. Joseph's University 78-70 - PSD Photo by Aaron Mitchell
Devon Goodman #12 leads his team off the court with the Big 5 banner:
#12 Devon Goodman defends SJU's Jared Bynum (#3) - PSD Photo by Mike Nance
“I think it’s the third time in 40 years going 4-0,’’ said proud fourth-year Penn coach Steve Donahue. “We’re a Big 5 team that plays in the Ivy League, not the other way. But you better win some games if you’re going to talk like that.”
After receiving a banner on the floor and posing for pictures, the first player to share the placard with the crowd was Penn junior Devon Goodman.
Patience really has been a virtue for the 2016 Germantown Academy alum. He had to wait his turn to become a Penn mainstay. Truth be told, two years of not starting was two years more than he had planned.
It’s the competitive nature of an athlete to want to play immediately, especially one that takes great pride in contributing to the overall good of the program.
“The story is great because he didn’t play much as a freshman and sophomore,” said Donahue. “He’s an incredible student . . . His ability to get in the gym and get better and not quit because it’s not going exactly how he had hoped the first two years . . .
“Now you look at him and think, ‘I wouldn’t have anybody else out there.’ He controls the game on both sides. I don’t know if there’s a better on-ball defender. I love the kid.”
Goodman’s statistics aren’t flashy, but they are fittingly steady. Through 18 games for the 12-6 Quakers this season, Goodman averages about 12.5 points, three rebounds, three assists, and a steal. His major strength is a combo of athleticism, basketball smarts, and psychology; when the Quakers need a general, someone to turn to when the scoreboard or game pace appears ominous, Goodman is the guy who needs to take charge.
That’s the job of a point guard, and Goodman relishes his role.
“I’m trying to lead the team more,” said Goodman. “Just do a lot of things to keep me on the floor. I’m enjoying every second of it.
“Confidence is key when you play basketball, especially with what Coach Donahue wants me to do. I’m the point guard, so I can never let my head down. My other teammates look at me for direction. Like when your shot’s not falling, you stay confident and just stay consistent with your shot. They’re gonna fall eventually.”
Against St. Joe’s, Goodman finished with seven points, six assists, and four boards in a team-high 38 minutes. What the post-game numbers don’t quantify is a player’s defense, and Goodman’s aggressiveness was a major factor in SJU hitting on only 3 of 24 attempts from three-point land.
Eventually, the Quakers got enough stops and supplied enough offense to take a decent-sized lead. Despite being significantly shorthanded with injuries, the Hawks remained close enough to necessitate some concern.
But the defending Ivy League champs hung on.
This wasn’t the first time Goodman has been a major cog in a local title. From 2013 through 2016, Goodman was a mainstay for Germantown Academy as it corralled four consecutive Inter-Academic League crowns. His efforts landed him Inter-Ac Most Valuable League honors as a senior.
Devon Goodman talks about his confidence as a point guard, reflects on his time at Germantown Academy & offers advice to high school athletes aspiring to play at the next level:
“My senior year, our goal was to win four Inter-Ac championships in a row, and we accomplished that,” said Goodman. “I love that group of guys, and I’m glad I was able to achieve that with them.
“I go back (to GA) sometimes, so it doesn’t seem that long ago. Also, over the summer I work out there. GA is like my second home. I had a great coaching staff when I was there. They really taught me a lot. They taught me how to lead.”
Penn vs. SJU - Photos by Aaron Mitchell
Penn vs. SJU - Photos by Aaron Mitchell
Penn vs. SJU - Photos by Mike Nance
Penn vs. SJU - Photos by Mike Nance
Goodman will always appreciate how much he was helped by Jim Fenerty, who coached him at Germantown Academy and is one of the most successful high school coaches in the country.
Because of health concerns, Fenerty retired a few weeks ago; he had planned to end his career after the season.
“Coach Fenerty is a hell of a coach,” said Goodman. “Just a great guy on the court and off the court. He helped me in the college process. He helped me become a man off the court, and he helped me be a man on the court. He taught me so many things. He had a hell of a career, and I’m happy for him.”
Fenerty offered glowing remarks about his former scholastic standout.
“Devon is an example of what every coach seeks in a member of their program – an excellent student, a great teammate, a winner in every sense of the word,” said Fenerty. “I am so proud of him. He has earned all of the success that he is achieving.”
Goodman, who majors in architecture, has some advice for high school athletes who may or not be on a college program’s radar.
“Keep working,” said Goodman. “I wasn’t really heavily recruited out of high school, but I kept grinding it out. I kept working. The hard work is going to pay off eventually. That’s what happened for me, having the opportunity to play Division I basketball. I’m happy that I’m here.”
Donahue, his teammates, and the fans that joined Goodman reveling in the Quakers Big 5 championship obviously feel likewise.
(John Knebels can be reached at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)