All good things must come to an end.
But for the six graduating seniors on Penn men's basketball, just because they are graduating does not mean that they are moving on from their basketball careers.
Here's a look at the six seniors' plans after Penn and lessons they will take away from their time with the program.
Forward Max Rothschild
Post-graduation plans: Rothschild does not have a set plan after graduation, but he intends to stay involved in basketball in some capacity, “whether that’s playing overseas next year or working as a coach or volunteering somewhere. I’m definitely trying to stay around it.” He does not currently have a particular league in mind and is looking for the best opportunity to play.
Lesson learned from Penn: “We talk a lot about grit, and I used to think that grit was like pounding my chest and yelling and being tough, but what I really learned is that it’s preparation for things, whether that be the game or coming to practice with energy and consistency,” Rothschild said.
Guard Antonio Woods
Post-graduation plans: Woods will be working with Penn Youth Basketball this summer, a program that he has worked with in the past. PYB is a sports-based youth development organization that aims to provide the opportunity for young people to reach their full potential. After this, Woods plans to go overseas and look for opportunities to play there. He has yet to hire an agent.
Lesson learned from Penn: “For me, I would say communication. Just because a lot of the things that happened to me here were because of not communicating,” Woods said. “I just feel like you can avoid a lot of things by communicating to your peers, your teammates, your coaches, your parents.”
Guard Jake Silpe
Post-graduation plans: Silpe will not be continuing his basketball career professionally, as he is currently recruiting for investment banking jobs in New York City. He will be playing basketball competitively for the last time in Budapest, Hungary at the Maccabi Games for Team USA this summer.
Lesson learned from Penn: “To meet as many people as you can at this school and to utilize all of the resources that you have,” Silpe said. “The alumni network, people who are in the same groups and clubs that you’re interested in. Just to meet as many people, leverage that network, networking is huge. It’s all about who you know after graduation and just making the most of it.”
Guard Jackson Donahue
Post-graduation plans: Donahue has been exploring opportunities as a graduate assistant coach. He has currently narrowed down his decision to three schools, and his decision will be made shortly.
“I wanted to continue my academics as well as keep the option of me coaching alive,” Donahue said.
He also said that he does not see himself working in anything other than basketball in the near future.
Lesson learned from Penn: “To make the most of every opportunity. The time is so short it’s actually wild to think that four years have gone by already and we’re graduating in a couple of weeks,” Donahue said. “But the opportunities that you have while at school and over the summer, the connections you make, are all what you make of them. It’s on you to stay connected. It’s on you to stay active and to make the most of whatever opportunity may come your way.”
Guard Tyler Hamilton
Post-graduation plans: Hamilton has a fifth year of eligibility and is currently in the transfer portal for collegiate athletes, a location where all coaches can see who is looking to transfer. He does not know where he will be playing yet.
Center Collin McManus
Post-graduation plans: McManus, like Hamilton, has a fifth year of eligibility and is currently looking into schools where he can play as a graduate transfer. He does not currently know where that may be, but he wants to go to a situation that best fits his game for his last year of eligibility.
Lesson learned from Penn: "Just appreciate every moment,” McManus said. “You think that four years is a long time, but it goes by so fast. You talk to some of the coaches here that were back here in the '90s, and they still talk about the great time they had here.”
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