Sophomore guard Michael Zanoni recently transferred to the Red and Blue after a year at Mercer University.
Penn men’s basketball is continuing to be aggressive at the transfer portal, adding another sharpshooting guard in Mercer men’s basketball sophomore guard Michael Zanoni.
The 6-foot-5 shooting guard received a wide range of offers, from Power 5 schools to lower-level Division I programs, after entering the transfer portal. However, he immediately gravitated towards Penn when the Red and Blue came knocking due to his existing relationship with the program. In high school, Zanoni developed a rapport with coach Nat Graham and met numerous times with head coach Steve Donahue through the recruiting process.
“So once [Penn] reached out, we rekindled that relationship. And the opportunity on and off the court at a school like Penn is hard to find elsewhere,” Zanoni explained. “Also, the fit with coach Donahue — what he does really plays for me in my game. I’m just really excited to get started with those guys.”
Zanoni, who was granted a medical redshirt this past season due to a foot fracture, has three remaining years of eligibility. The injury, although not ideal, gave Zanoni the ability to reflect on his game and improve as a player.
“[Being injured] gave me a lot of time to just get in the gym every day, work on my body, and get healthy again which is the big thing,” Zanoni said. “I made some big strides in my game this year, and I am just ready to showcase those these next few years.”
Prior to redshirting this past year, Zanoni had an instant impact during his freshman campaign. The Charlotte native played in all 33 games for the Bears, including 13 starts. Zanoni shot 38.3% from the three-point line in the 2022-23 season, many of which came off of catch-and-shoot opportunities.
When questioned about who he models his playstyle after, Zanoni pointed to Miami Heat guard Duncan Robinson and Alba Berlin guard Matt Thomas, who plays in Germany.
“I think [Robinson and Thomas] do a good job of scoring within one or two dribbles and getting their shot off quick. Their bags are so deep, with only one or two dribbles and staying behind the three-point line. That’s something I try to mimic and model my game after.”
Zanoni also possesses an extremely effective pump fake at his disposal, leading to leaping defenders and wide-open shots from beyond. The tendency for defenders to bite at his fakes has a great amount to do with their respect for his shot, but it is also a move that Zanoni has perfected alongside his coaches at Mercer to create space.
Along with his shooting and shot-creating ability, Zanoni believes that Quakers fans will quickly pick up on his basketball IQ and his “feel for the game.” Additionally, Zanoni hopes to showcase his bounce with the Quakers, something he was unable to do at Mercer outside of dunking on a few teammates at practice.
Zanoni feels confident that his combination of playstyle and on-court leadership can immediately assist in the creation of a winning culture at Penn that rivals others in the Ivy League, which enticed him to join the Ancient Eight.
“Obviously, I watch a lot of basketball. I’ve seen those games with Yale and Princeton making runs [in the NCAA tournament]. And you know, I really do believe Penn’s the next school to do that. I think we're going to do that this and next year.”
The construction of this winning culture has seemingly started early for Zanoni and his new team as he detailed playing pick-up games with his new teammates including sophomore guard Sam Brown. He also has been texting frequently with his fellow transfer teammates who will be taking the Palestra court for the first time this fall.
Outside of basketball, Zanoni is looking forward to a change of scenery and completely immersing himself in the City of Brotherly Love.
On July 17, Zanoni will be traveling to Philadelphia to practice as a member of Penn men’s basketball. During this trip, he will be able to further show off his ability bottled briefly by injury and try a Philadelphia cheesesteak for the first time, something he said he is very much looking forward to.
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