PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania's John R. Rockwell Head Coach of Men's Basketball, Steve Donahue, has announced his recruiting class for the upcoming 2021-22 season. Five young men—Ed Holland III, Gus Larson, Reese McMullen, George Smith and Nick Spinoso—will join the Quakers' men's basketball roster this season as freshmen.
 
"We are excited to welcome Ed, Gus, Reese, George and Nick to Penn and to our program," said Donahue, who has been the Quakers' head coach since the 2015-16 season. "All five of these guys have excellent skill sets and I think they will impact our program over the next four years.
 
"This was a hard class to evaluate due to the pandemic—not just for us, but for everyone—but we identified all five of these guys pretty early in the process and we are thrilled to have them joining us in the fall. We can't wait to get back on the court and see how they fit in with the rest of our guys. This will really be a reset for our entire program after not playing last year, so I'm excited to get everyone out there and see what we have and how we can maximize our roster. The hope is that these five guys help us win a few championships these next several years."
 
Penn finished the 2019-20 season with a 16-11 record and earned the fourth seed in the canceled Ivy League Tournament with an 8-6 conference mark. The Ivy League did not have a basketball season in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
ED HOLLAND III
6-6 | 205
Philadelphia, Pa. | Friends' Central
High School: Four-year letter winner in basketball, captain as a senior for head coach Jason Polykoff … First-team Pennsylvania All-State Non-PIAA as a senior … First-team Friends Schools League (FSL) All-League as a senior, Honorable Mention FSL All-League as a sophomore and junior … Team MVP as a junior and senior … His Philly Pride AAU team won the UnderArmour Association (UAA) Under-16 national championship in 2019.
 
Personal: Son of Marquise and Edward Holland, Jr. … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.
 
 
GUS LARSON
6-10 | 205
New Canaan, Conn. | Northfield Mount Hermon
High School: Earned four letters in basketball under head coach John Carroll … Helped NMH win New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) Class AAA championship in 2018-19 … NMH's Valentine Award recipient in 2020-21, the highest honor bestowed upon an athlete at the school … Captain as a senior … Played AAU for Team New England (2018), Expressions (2019) and Mass Rivals (2020) … One-year letter winner in football … Honor Roll student … Student radio show host.
 
Personal: Son of Kristina and Michael Larson … Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business.
 
 
REESE McMULLEN
6-3 | 180
Memphis, Tenn. | Christian Brothers
High School: Four-year starter and three-year captain under head coach Bubba Luckett … CB went 21-1 and was ranked in the MaxPreps National Top 25 during the 2020-21 season … All-state and All-Metro in 2020-21 … Three-time all-region … Scored more than 1,000 career points, reached the century mark during his junior season … Played for the Hoop City AAU team … National Merit finalist … Coolidge Scholar … National Honor Society member.
 
Personal: Son of Camille and Bruce McMullen … Cousin, Calli McMullen, ran track at Army West Point from 2017-20 and graduated with 12 Patriot League championships and eight program records … Will enroll in the Wharton School of Business.
 

GEORGE SMITH
6-4 | 200
Salem, N.H. | Brooks School
High School: Played for Brooks' First Varsity basketball team under head coach John McVeigh in 2019-20 … Led Brooks to the New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) Class B final … Earned first-team Independent School League (ISL) all-conference and first-team NEPSAC Class B All-Star honors … MVP of the 2020 Harrington Classic … The ISL did not play in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic … Prior to Brooks, lettered three times in hoops at Central Catholic and won Merrimack Valley Conference (MVC) titles in 2016-17 and 2018-19 … Two-time All-Star selection by The Eagle-Tribune … Scored more than 1,000 points and hit more than 200 three-point baskets across his high school career … His Middlesex Magic AAU team won the 2019 Hoop Group Showcase League (HGSL) championship … Graduated Summa Cum Laude … Distinction in mathematics … Cum Laude Society member … Highest Honors.
 
Personal: Son of Sue and Jeff Smith … Enrolled in the Wharton School of Business.

 
NICK SPINOSO
6-9 | 240
Port Washington, N.Y. | Kellenberg Memorial
High School: Three-year varsity starter for head coach Jack McCutcheon, captain as a senior … Graduated second on the program's all-time scoring list with more than 1,000 points … Averaged 22 points, 16 rebounds and five assists per game as a senior in 2019-20 while earning all-state and, for the second time, All-Long Island … All-tournament at the 2019 SouthSide Holiday Classic … Two-time Tom Crotty Classic MVP… Three-time Nassau Suffolk Catholic High School Athletic Association (NSCHSAA) All-League selection … Spent the 2020-21 season at the Canterbury School but did not see any game action due to COVID-19 pandemic … His Crown Basketball AAU team went 38-2 in 2019 and won five different Hoop Group Jam Fest championships … Honor Roll student … SALT member … Marianist Mentor.
 
Personal: Son of Kim and Gerard Spinoso … Father played college basketball at C.W. Post (now LIU Post) … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences.