3,475 spectators. 10 players on the court. One NBA prospect. And Agent Zero.
When the Penn men’s basketball took on Princeton earlier this season, the Palestra was packed as the crowd anticipated a close matchup between the Ivy League rivals. Many came to see one player in particular: Princeton’s Xaivian Lee. As a projected second-round draft pick in the 2025 NBA draft, he was a crowd draw, but throughout the game, a silent but unstoppable freshman hampered Lee’s usual performance — Penn’s number zero, freshman guard AJ Levine.
“The best part of defense is that [people] think offense is supposed to have the advantage,” Levine said. “My mindset is that I have the advantage. I know what you’re going to do, and I’m going to beat you to it. … You think you can score on me? No. … I don’t care who you are; I am going to guard you.”
In that game, Lee — who averages 16.8 points per game — scored 11 points and only four of those shots landed when Levine guarded him. Levine ended the night with nine points, four rebounds, and four steals.
How did Levine become this valuable basketball player that Penn knows him as now? A competitive spirit that carried him through over a decade of multi-sport athletics.
Basketball, football, gymnastics, volleyball, lacrosse — if you name a sport, Levine’s played it. The Illinois native was welcomed to the world of basketball when he was six years old. His prowess was not limited to one sport, and his competitive nature developed immediately.
While middle school allowed him to play all of the sports he loved with his friends, his entry to high school issued an ultimatum: the choice between football or basketball. Having played travel basketball since second grade, he decided to focus all of his energy towards hoops.
“I really fell in love with basketball my freshman year. I was working so hard at it and seeing myself get better, and I [thought] I really love this. … So I decided freshman year that I was going to play in college.”
However, his freshman year of high school was afflicted by the emergence of COVID-19. In response, Levine practiced shooting drills on his own in his backyard basketball court. The lush greenery of Elmhurst, Illinois, surrounded the pavement, as Levine took this obstacle in stride. As he continued to practice with a trainer on Zoom every chance that he could, his determination to achieve his goals never waned.
Then-high school freshman AJ Levine practicing basketball in his backyard. Courtesy of Kari Levine.
Like all dreams, recruitment did not come easily. During a very successful high school career, Levine’s hard work from a young age paid off as he was a varsity player from sophomore year. He scored 1,321 points overall, and he led the team in steals with 122 — which set a program record. However, finding a team to play for at the next level was challenging; club basketball provided an ideal solution.
His club team, Young and Reckless, is a recreational basketball organization with a notoriety for athletic success. Levine entered a team full of basketball idols, but he quickly rose to the top.
“He’s a winner. He’s a born winner,” coach Jay Brim, Levine’s coach at Young and Reckless, said. “His ability to compete and really leave it all out there … is something that any coach in general would really love in a guard.”
After his senior year, Levine dedicated the summer to Ivy League elite camps, which marked his first sighting of the Cathedral of College Basketball. As summer and fall passed, Levine finally received the money offer: the University of Pennsylvania.
That summer, Levine’s travels introduced him to Penn men’s basketball assistant coach Joe Mihalich Jr., “He really jumped out from day one as a really good defender on the ball,” Mihalich said.
With a charming personality and naturally personable manner, Agent Zero clicked with his new team almost instantly. On and off the court, his teammates and coaches noticed the affable energy Levine brought wherever he went.
“He’s a small, feisty, [and] super friendly guy and just an overall good vibe in the locker room,” his teammate junior guard Ethan Roberts said. “He is somebody that everyone initially clinged to because he is such a people person, but then on the court, he’s so aggressive, which is kind of funny.”
Just how aggressive can a freshman be? Levine leads Penn men’s basketball in steals and personal fouls with 26 and 63, respectively. During games, Levine is consistently calling out defensive assignments, and many of his teammates have emphasized the pure competitiveness he maintains at all times.
“My whole life, I’ve been an overly competitive person. … It’s just how my head works. I hate losing, no matter what it is. In practice, it gets over the top sometimes.” Levine said.
For some, a competitive nature is a drawback, but Levine capitalizes on it.
“I think [competitiveness] has helped me in the fact that I am always going to be playing my ass off. … I take everything I do seriously, [but it gets to a point] where I expect too much of myself … and of other people.”
After playing with a 2-3 zone in high school and man-to-man defense in club seasons, Levine’s defensive prowess was shaped early due to the physically demanding defensive formations. He utilized this expertise to guard the Ivy League’s leading scorers throughout the season.
“He surprised us with his athleticism,” head coach Steve Donahue said. “I don’t know if I picked up on how good of an athlete he was. … He’s got a mindset of ‘I want to stop that other team’s best player,’ and we were able to use that.”
This season shined a light on Penn’s newest basketball sensation, and it is clear how Levine will become one of the greats for the Quakers. With a driven attitude and undying passion for basketball, Levine was destined to succeed in the Palestra.
“It was funny because I got some pictures [someone] had taken during a practice session, and [I could see] the complete joy on his face, completely sweaty. … There’s no love that he has in anything else than basketball,” his mother, Kari Levine, said.
And so, what is Agent Zero’s next mission? Leading Penn men’s basketball to March Madness.
“March Madness. It’s gonna happen. Oh, I promise it will happen.”
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