Junior guard Michael Zanoni shoots against Drexel on Dec. 7, 2024.
Credit: Weining DingFrom Charlotte, N.C. to Macon, Ga. to Philadelphia; from seafood to cheesesteaks; from the Queen City to the City of Brotherly Love, Penn’s lucky number seven has not let a season-ending injury break his stride.
Junior guard/forward Michael Zanoni has been there, done that across the country in his basketball career, but he is here to stay with Penn men’s basketball.
As a Quaker, his season has been nothing short of excellent so far, but this comes as no surprise considering his tenacious path to the Palestra.
Zanoni has been a superstar since his youth. While none of his siblings or parents played basketball, he was passionate about the sport from the second grade and beyond. His Amateur Athletic Union season at eight years old marked the beginning of a long journey towards greatness, and these formative years gave rise to an action-packed high school career.
“I would say I’m just grateful,” Zanoni said reflecting on his high school seasons. “The relationships and memories I made are stuff I’ll take with me throughout my whole life.”
His high school seasons emulated his college career as he split the four years between two schools. He was a two-time All-State player with over 1,400 points by graduation — all under one of North Carolina’s most successful head coaches, Freddy Johnson. Zanoni also shot 44% from beyond the three-point arc over the four seasons. His basketball preeminence did not ever hold him back academically as he graduated on the Academic Honor Roll.
While Zanoni concluded his high school career on a lower note with a loss at the state championship, he had other focuses on his mind: an unexpected global pandemic that upended college basketball recruiting, the first of many obstacles.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world, high school athletes were suddenly forced to send highlights directly to recruiters and coaches as their only display of athletic prowess. The recruitment process became especially stressful for athletes across the nation.
“My recruitment process was different because it was during COVID, so it was harder to be seen … Mercer was an opportunity for me to play right away,” Zanoni said.
Zanoni joined the Bears at Mercer University and had a standout freshman season. As one of two players to play in every game of the season, he was a crucial shooter with 6.2 points per game and an average of 20 minutes in each contest. His potential was high, and his future in basketball was steadily soaring.
Then, his second, most difficult obstacle emerged: a season-ending foot fracture.
“Michael had a really unfortunate situation last year,” Jim Zanoni, Michael’s father, said regarding the injury. “He had an excellent summer before his sophomore year and was set to have a really productive year. To have that happen the week before the season was really, really tough for him.”
Though he was looking forward to his second college basketball season, his foot fracture posed an immovable barrier. But, Zanoni’s ability to bounce back mentally and physically is a testament to his character.
“I gave myself three months just to really focus on my body and my mind. Having a complete reset.” Michael told The Daily Pennsylvanian in July.
And he didn’t do it alone. He and his Mercer teammates spent months in the gym to grant Zanoni a physical and mental reset in his recovery. This resilient player with a persevering mindset is the Zanoni who became a novice sensation when he transferred to Penn — after rekindling relationships from his high school recruiting journey with Associate Head Coach Nat Graham and Head Coach Steve Donahue.
Born seven pounds, 7.77 ounces, in the seventh room on the floor, the Quakers’ new lucky number seven took the Palestra by storm the second he stepped on the court this season. His sharpshooter expertise could not be stopped despite his season off, and he leads the Quakers in free throw percentage at 93.8%. A catch-and-shoot specialist, Zanoni averages 7.0 points per game. His show-stopping performance at Penn State led to a career high of 27 points — 21 of which from beyond the three point line.
“It was a tribute to all of the work I put in,” Zanoni said about this breakout game. “And I remember thinking [that] a little version of me was pretty happy with that. So obviously the goal is to just keep doing it and keep second grade Michael proud.”
Zanoni is a hardworking player, and his tenacity does not go unnoticed. Even now, as he recuperates from a sickness that has stopped him from playing in the six games prior to this past weekend, those around him do not ignore his diligence.
“He puts a lot of work in,” Graham said. “I mean, there’s a reason why he shoots the ball the way he does. You don’t do anything to that level unless you [work for it].”
His absence was no match for the force he showed in his first game back for the Quakers after an eight-game hiatus. Having played Dartmouth in January before illness struck him down, his performance during Penn’s second matchup against the Big Green was remarkable. He finished the game with a 60% shooting percentage, and his nine points earned in 17 minutes, alongside three defensive rebounds played a major role in leading the team to victory after a five-game losing streak.
“You have to be so mentally tough to be able to come back … and not miss a beat,” teammate sophomore guard Sam Brown said. “I live with him. I’ve seen the worst of it. I’m just so proud of what he’s done. There’s a quiet internal resilience that he’s really showing.”
He is also a product of his environment. His dad Jim was a Division III college football player.
“I’m a firm believer that being a student-athlete at the college level teaches you a great deal about life. … You’re not going to get everything to go your way [but] no matter what happens, you wake up the next day and it’s a new day. You just continue to fight and be the best version of yourself you can be.” Jim Zanoni said.
Zanoni has encountered many bumps on his road to success, but he never forgets that he is in the driver’s seat, taking control of his journey and steering his future with perseverance.
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