Shrewsbury’s TJ Power has finally found a home at Penn

A number of hours after delivering one of the outstanding performances in Ivy League males’s basketball historical past, Penn junior TJ Energy sat alone in his lodge room and let himself cry.

“It’s emotional,” stated Energy, a Shrewsbury native. “Quite a bit has gone into this three years in faculty. To have a second like that, it makes all of it price it.”

Energy was as soon as a five-star recruit and Gatorade Participant of the 12 months at Worcester Academy. However as a freshman at Duke he averaged simply 6.7 minutes per recreation in 2023-24. He transferred to Virginia the following 12 months, averaging 9.3 minutes as a sophomore.

However this season, with coach Fran McCaffery as a guiding gentle, Energy has rediscovered his pleasure for the sport in what he describes as a full-circle second. He’s averaging 16.8 factors and seven.9 rebounds, and taking pictures 43.3 p.c on 3-pointers because the Quakers head into the NCAA Event.

Energy erupted for 44 factors and 14 rebounds Sunday, burying a tying 3-pointer on the finish of regulation to gas Penn to an upset win over Yale and ship this system to the event for the primary time since 2018.

With the 6-foot-9-inch ahead as an anchor, the 14th-seeded Quakers will attempt to electrify the school basketball world once more after they face third-seeded Illinois Thursday at 9:25 p.m. on TNT.

“It’s nothing I might have deliberate out,” Energy stated. “I believe all of the struggling and all of the struggles had been crucial for me to be taught issues I needed to be taught and push myself even tougher.”

Energy grew up taking part in within the driveway along with his dad and mom, Tom and Shannon, his sister Lauren, and his neighbor Nick Pasquale. Energy sharpened his expertise on the Pleasant Home in Worcester and infrequently drove across the metropolis along with his father to seek out open gyms.

Energy gained a district title his sophomore 12 months at St. John’s Shrewsbury underneath longtime coach Bob Foley, then transferred to Worcester Academy and captured back-to-back NEPSAC championships underneath Jamie Sullivan. Whilst he blossomed right into a nationwide star, Energy by no means misplaced what outlined him.

“It was by no means in regards to the recognition,” Energy stated. “I simply love the sport a lot. It was an escape from every little thing.”

He additionally raised near $15,000 for A Shot For Life, a sports-based nonprofit group that funds well being and most cancers analysis initiatives.

Founder and CEO Mike Slonina will always remember how Energy enthusiastically jumped on the alternative to volunteer for the ASFL Gauntlet, even when Energy wasn’t required to.

“That’s so core to who he’s,” Slonina stated. “He’s by no means been somebody that needed clout or consideration. He’s only a actually, actually good individual.”

Energy arrived at Duke hoping to dwell out a childhood dream, however he averaged simply 2.1 factors on a powerhouse squad that superior to the Elite Eight. He and coach Jon Scheyer each expressed curiosity in him staying, however he elected to switch as soon as he knew the total image of the roster.

Energy determined to play for Tony Bennett at Virginia, then Bennett retired proper earlier than the season. Energy misplaced his beginning spot and averaged 1.3 factors per recreation because the Cavaliers sputtered to a 15-17 season.

“That’s a tricky spot to be in mentally, whenever you’re in your second 12 months and you’ve got all these expectations coming into faculty and it’s not going your approach,” Energy stated. “I needed to combat that.”

As he entered the switch portal once more, Energy selected to observe McCaffery, who was let go at Iowa on the finish of the 2024-25 season, wherever McCaffery went subsequent.

Energy stated McCaffery had lengthy been a supporter and had at all times believed in his skills, empowering him to play with freedom and creativity.

McCaffery attended each one in all Energy’s spring and summer season video games, they usually each realized the timing was proper.

Sunday’s recreation launched the school basketball world to Energy, however those that know him properly have seen this coming for years.

“He didn’t hold his head,” McCaffery stated. “He discovered. He labored. He persevered. He by no means stopped believing in himself.”