
Most warriors remain unsung. Behind the curtain, when the mask falls and the spotlight finally dims, that’s when one’s hard work can finally be recognized. Penn men’s basketball sophomore forward Augustus Gerhart embodies this quiet heroism as a determined character whose smiling, upbeat personality pairs with relentless work ethic to shape his growing role on the team.
“College basketball is hard, and Ivy League basketball is even harder,” Gerhart said. “It’s such a special feeling of being able to accomplish something that you’ve wanted to do for your whole life … So, when things get hard, it’s good to remind yourself, this is what you wanted.”
After a standout high school basketball career decorated with accolades like over 1,000 total points and recognition as a two-time first-team All Mid-Atlantic Prep League, Gerhart’s rookie season as a Quaker was nothing to be ashamed of. The six-foot-nine forward appeared in 26 games for the Quakers, averaging seven minutes per game as part of Penn’s big rotation. When he got extended time on the court, he thrived, scoring ten points each in games against John Jay — his first contest in Red and Blue — and Monmouth.
Despite this strong start to his Penn career, Gerhart wanted more this campaign. He devoted the past offseason to getting better by practicing drills and strength conditioning at his high school, the Hill School. Getting up almost 500 shots per week, Gerhart was not going to let the rest of the nation’s best basketball players pass him by. He said that in college, players are bigger and move faster than in high school, and he needed to be able to match their physicality.
“If you look, he’s gotten so much stronger,” Donahue said. “He’s one of the more dedicated [players] I’ve ever coached … He’s all about doing whatever he can to prepare himself.”
But all the strength and speed in the world only mean so much if not used properly. As a result, Gerhart focused on improving the mental parts of his game, learning when to find teammates for passes, where to cut, and how to position himself as an anchor of the Quakers’ defense. This year, he acknowledged that there were higher standards for his play.
“I’ve struggled with confidence through my career," Gerhart said. “Letting yourself be free and not worrying about what a coach is going to think … is something I’ve struggled with … which is what’s going to make it so rewarding when it finally clicks.”
Nevertheless, his hard work has been paying off. Gerhart has appeared in 25 of Penn’s 26 games this year, and started in six. His minutes are up to nearly 15 per game. His stats are up nearly across the board, including a nearly three-fold increase in rebounds and a doubling of made field goals. Beyond the box score, Gerhart looks like a bigger part of the overall team on both offense and defense, protecting the rim and setting up teammates. And when he gets the ball in transition, Gerhart can throw down monstrous dunks.
What is most notable about Gerhart’s season is the pain he endured throughout every sensational performance. Though he did not know it at the time, Gerhart played on a broken foot throughout the season, and he is now in the recovery process, having forgone surgery but wearing a boot for the next few months.
As he always does, Gerhart has taken every opportunity to stay in shape and prepare himself for pre-season work in the fall. He explained that he has constructed a personal exercise routine that keeps his lower body at ease for better recovery while he trains his upper body and cardiovascular muscles. He balances these workouts with rehabilitation strategies.
It takes a village to overcome such drawbacks, and while the team has always been there for him, senior forward/center Nick Spinoso greatly influenced Gerhart’s journey as a student-athlete through guidance and mentorship. Both on and off the court, Gerhart lauded how Spinoso has helped him develop over the two years the pair shared in Red and Blue.
“[Spinoso is] a really great dude and a really good friend to have on campus [as] someone who has been there for me through a lot and not just basketball,” Gerhart said. “He also has a deep understanding of Penn basketball … He’s able to show me tips and tricks and what’s worked for him. And I think one of my downfalls was that I was trying so hard to be him … So I can just try to be the best version of myself, and I was almost trying too hard to match his game instead of embracing my own.”
Penn’s current assist leader is Spinoso, who has tallied over 20 more assists than the next closest Quaker, sophomore guard Sam Brown, positioning him to lead the team in assists for a third consecutive season. However, Spinoso’s journey at Penn has come to an end along with those of other key figures in Augustus Gerhart’s life. Head coach Steve Donahue will no longer be at the helm of Penn men’s basketball, and Brown, Gerhart’s close friend, is transferring to Davidson for the remainder of his college career.
On Donahue’s departure, Gerhart said, “I have so much love and respect for the coaching staff that recruited me here … It was really sad to see them go … but in terms of the new coaching stuff, I’m really optimistic.”
“I’m just so excited for [Brown],” Gerhart said. “He’s going to have a really good basketball career and do great things, [and] selfishly, I am really upset to be losing one of my best friends on campus, someone who I have grown really close to in the last two years and had the opportunity to get to know better … We’re going to stay in contact, but it’s a lot of happiness but a little sadness that he’s leaving.”
With Spinoso’s departure, Gerhart is expected to take on a larger offensive role. The team will now move forward under the leadership of head coach Fran McCaffery, whose fast-paced style could play to Gerhart’s strengths.
“[Donahue] recruits really high level individuals, not just basketball wise, but he recruits good [young] men," Gerhart said. “I think our team was ready for the change, and we’re a resilient group [who have] always held ourselves to a high standard [that] a coach coming in and changing [the] standards wasn’t a big shock to us.”
Individually, Gerhart has adapted to the coaching change differently as his injury has held him back from normal practices with the remainder of the team. On the sidelines, he claimed that he has been trying to be a sponge in understanding the new offensive and defensive principles under McCaffery.
Gerhart’s basketball career is riddled with rewarding peaks and equally challenging valleys, but the sophomore is already building a legacy that will only grow in his final two years of his time as a Quaker. His fighting spirit may be unsung, but there are two traits of his character that, as always seen in media, will always shine through: a smile to uplift his teammates and an unwavering grit that quietly pulls the spotlight toward the future glory of Penn men’s basketball success.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
Donate