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Lockman’s transfer to Penn College has paid off for team

It took a couple years with stops in Ohio and Illinois, but Ryan Lockman finally feels that he found the right fit. Despite being nearly 2,700 miles away from his hometown of White Salmon, Washington, the Penn College junior forward feels like he’s found a home on the East Coast.

“I (absolutely feel that I’m in the right spot), especially because what it took to get here and everything,” Lockman said while trying to catch his breath mid-practice. “I definitely feel that this is the right place.”

After being recruited by Oberlin College in high school, Lockman got his collegiate start with the Yeomen and made the northwest Ohio college his home for his freshman year. Though he enjoyed the challenging academics, the basketball team wasn’t the right fit for him, so he tried out for the Illinois Tech basketball team, but was cut, opening up the door for Penn College. Lockman heard from the Wildcats in high school, but decided to head for Ohio instead. Though it took him a couple years to find the right spot, Lockman is happy where he ended up.

“It makes me appreciate it every day. I really feel like we’re all going for the same dream. Even though it’s just D3 basketball, it’s still a dream,” Lockman said.

Penn College is also happy with the transfer. After averaging 6.2 points and 5.1 rebounds per game with the Wildcats last season, Lockman has taken a big leap in his second year in Williamsport and is leading the team in both scoring (13.6) and rebounding (7.1) this season. The athletic swingman has improved his ball handling, especially with his right hand, and has worked on his shot. He’s been rewarded for his efforts as he’s shooting a team-best 59 percent from the field, which is also eighth best in the conference.

“Since school started in August, I’ve been here four months, and I’ve had the pleasure to work with Ryan and it’s unbelievable to see the growth he’s had as a basketball player and a young man,” first-year Penn College coach Geoff Hensley said. “He’s picked up very quickly the concepts that we’re teaching on the basketball court and he’s had a successful year. He’s been our leading scorer in a number of games and our leading rebounder in a number of games. It’s been a lot of fun to watch him have this much success.”

With his improved ball handling skills, Lockman has been given the freedom to grab the rebound and go make things happen on offense. His high school point guard skills have been put to the test, but they still need some work.

“They weren’t college good yet,” Lockman admitted.

Though the Wildcats (1-8 overall) aren’t having the best season as a team, Lockman is a bright spot and has kept the team in a number of games this season. He scored a career-high 26 points against Moravian, notched consecutive double-doubles against Moravian and Lycoming and has posted double-digit scoring efforts in seven games this year.

“He’s a huge lift for the team. When we’re struggling on the offensive end or even the defensive end, you can count on Lockman to go get a big-time rebound or go get a big-time and-1 layup at the basket,” Hensley said. “He’s been a huge lift for us in a number of games.”

Lockman hasn’t just excelled on the court, either. He’s a recipient of the prestigious Bill Gates Scholarship, which is a full scholarship for minorities. He had to write four essays, get approved, write four more essays, get approved again and then meet with a board of the foundation to determine if he genuinely cares about his community. Lockman checked all the boxes, including community service as he was a Boy Scout and had nearly 300 hours of community service his senior year of high school. He was just one of a 1,000 seniors to earn the scholarship in the state of Washington.

It took years for the computer engineering major to find the right fit and with a little help from his family, coaches and even Gates, he has, and he couldn’t be happier about it.

“It’s a blessing,” Lockman said.

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