Going Out With Bang; Beau Verdill Puts Finishing Touches On Stellar PSU-DuBois Basketball Career
Above photo courtesy of Mindi Verdill – Beau and the rest of the team at USAAC Championships
Former Clarion Area basketball and Clarion-Limestone soccer standout, Beau Verdill put the final touches on a great collegiate career for the Penn State-DuBois (PSU-DuBois) Lions basketball team in playoff actiion in recent weeks.
Here’s a look at Beau’s highlights in the playoffs.
In an 80-72 win over Penn State-Beaver, in the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) Men’s Basketball Quarterfinals, at DuBois on Monday, February 24th, Beau scored 17 points and had three steals.
In their 80-74 victory over Penn State-Greater Allegheny in their PSUAC Semifinal at home on, Beau’s numbers looked like this, 16 points, 10 rebounds, a block, a pair of steals and an assist.
That win moved the Lions to the PSUAC Championship Game, held Sunday, March 2nd, at Penn State University’s Bryce Jordan Center. The Lions fell to Penn State-Mont Alto in another close game, 75-67.
This might have been the end to PSU-DuBois season. But no, the Lions received an invitation to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Men’s Small College Basketball National Championships held at SUNY Erie Community, at Buffalo as a Play In contestant, ensuring them of at least two more games for the 2024-25 season.
The Lions fell by just three points, 92-89, in the Play In Game to Bucks County Community College, on Tuesday, March 11th and in the Consolation Game, Wednesday, March 12th, PSU-DuBois fell to Penn State-Wilkes-Barre, 80-71.
Beau scored 10 points, pulled down 6 rebounds and had seven steals in the Play In Game and followed with his largest point output of the post season, in the Consolation Game. Beau scored 21 points. He also had 9 rebounds, a steal and an assist. Although hoping to go farther, what a last game of his collegiate career.
A number of Beau’s teammates put up some nice numbers of their own in the post season. This Lions’ Team should be very proud.
Beau was named the PSUAC West Player of the Year Beau was and first team All-PSUAC. He was also the last PSUAC West Player of the Week for the 2024-25 season.
He led the team this season in points per game (16.6), rebounds per game (6.6), field goal percentage (54.2), 3 point percentage and(42.5), steals per game (3.4), and blocks per game (1).
A solid all around player, Beau turned in some fine numbers for the the Lions this season, playing in 31 games and throughout his career, in 86 game. Here are some of those numbers (listed season first, then career):
OFFENSE: Points – 516/1081, Field Goals – 199/434, Three Pointers – 76/114, Free Throws – 42/99.
DEFENSE: Rebounds – 196/533, Assists – 34/93, Steals 105/216, Blocks – 30/71.
Penn State-DuBois Head Coach Dan Smay shared, “With the style of basketball that I brought with me I saw the potential in Beau pretty quickly. It took him a little while to buy into that, but once he did it was pretty clear to everyone what he could do for us.”
In a desire to do what is best for the team, one of Beau’s teammates did something special that you rarely here of in sports. “Jadon Myers even came to me and told me that he would give up his starting spot so that Beau could get in the starting rotation.”
The Lions got on board. “Our entire team bought in, and Beau is a huge part of how we run our defense. The bench would get excited every time I called his name to go in the game, because they knew what was about to happen. Beau is the spark to our press, and I try not to rest him too long because he really makes us a different team when he is in the game.”
As to the benefit to Beau, coach Smay said, “Then the game started flowing and he realized how much it opened up for him offensively as well, so his confidence started really growing.”
A special bond between player and coach developed. “Beau and my relationship has really grown over the past two seasons. He was someone that I would have to suspend for half now and then last year, to a major team leader this year.
“He is a special athlete for us, and one that will be very hard to replace. I’ve loved coaching him, and I definitely will miss having him around on and off the court. We both wanted him to be Defensive Player of the Year this season and I’m so happy for him that he earned that. He plays with so much joy, and I will miss that a lot.
“The fact that Beau is one that has been with me since I started here it will be tough to look down the bench and not see him giving me a thumbs up that he’s ready to go back in the game.”
Coach Smay’s pride Beau’s teammates as well. “What these men have done over the two seasons that have been here has been amazing.
“I always tell them that effort covers a lot of mistakes. Coaches always tell me how hard my guys play. I contribute their effort to our success these past two years. They literally have no quit in them, and I am hopeful that will translate to their future jobs, families, and faith.”
Coach Smay’s coaching style took Beau a while getting used to, but reaped great results. Beau said, “When Dan came in it was almost a culture shock for some guys including myself. It took a while to adjust to his ways on and off the court and that culture change is what has defined this school and program ever since.
“In high school I was the top of our full court press and coach knew that coming in and used that to his complete advantage. He took my athleticism and put it on display for the conference to see and truthfully it shocked the USCAA.”
The team had a special drive at the end of the last two years. “We have had a rocky start to both seasons and have finished on a big run at the end of both seasons I’ve played under coach Dan. My career is a defining one at this school.”
Beau shared some of his accomplishments that he is most proud of. “I’m not sure if anyone has ever been a 1000 point scorer with 500 career rebounds and 200 career steals.
This year I won Defensive Player of the Year as well as First Team PSUAC averaging 17 ppg 6 rebounds and 3.5 steals a game. I’ve also had the first 100 steal season in school history. I can confidently say no one has ever done that here.”
And special thanks to some special folks, “I’d like to give credit to my parents for instilling in me that I don’t need the spotlight on me to shine brighter than everyone else. I believe that my hard work and late nights are what got me to this point and I am going to be working even harder to take myself to the next level.
“I thank my teammates for allowing me to help lead this team, along with others, where it has gone defensively and offensively… Never in my life did I think coming out of high school I would be up on the PSU-DuBois gym wall as a 1,000 point scorer when I didn’t even know where I wanted my life to lead me!”
“This year and last year I shot 55% from the field and 43% from 3 both years as well as leading the team in ppg, rpg, spg, fg %, 3pt % and I shot 87% from the free throw line.”
And about the PSUAC Championship, “Playing in the Bryce Jordan center was also amazing and performing as well as I did shows me and the people around me that there’s really no audience I can’t play in front of and it just shows that even from these small towns and close communities that you can chase your dreams big or small.”
Beau had this to say about the National Play In Game, “The USCAA Small College Championship was a great experience as well which we lost on an unfortunate half court buzzer beater in overtime but I believe that we are much better than that team and we just had an off day that afternoon we played.”
Two thumbs up from Beau on his own and the whole team’s progress. “All around I’m very very happy in where I started and where I am now, as well as how far this program has come especially on the defensive end of things.”
(Congratulations on a great season and career Beau!!!! Congratulations to Coach Smay and the team on this wonderful run!!!! Thanks to Mindi Verdill Jordan Sommers for the photos and PSU-DuBois Athletics for the image!!)