Penn, Scoonie

• Scoonie Penn was a Salem High School basketball star who later played for Ohio State. After finishing Ohio State in 2000, Penn played

for the Atlanta Hawks.

• Born Jan. 9, 1977 in Brooklyn, N.Y.C., Penn was born James Donnell Penn, later nicknamed "Scoonie."

• Scoonie Penn was a dynamic 5-foot-10 point guard at Salem High. He ranks as one of the greatest scorers in state history with 2,189 points.

• Penn was named MVP of the Big East Tournament his sophomore year at Boston College and then, after transferring to Ohio State, he led that

team in 1999 to their first NCAA Final Four appearance since 1968.

• Since Penn turned pro in 2000, he has played for numerous European teams in Italy, Greece, and Croatia.

• Penn was inducted into the Salem Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.

• Penn played for Ohio State from 1998 to 2000

• In 2019, Scoonie Penn became an assistant coach with the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies.

See Also

Vertical File in Salem Collection - Penn, Scoonie

"Turkish delight: Former Salem star Penn writes a new chapter in Istanbul" Salem News, Apr. 23. 2008, p. 13

"Scoonie Penn legend overlooked" Salem News, Aug. 29, 2008, p. 15

"Scoonie's coming home; Penn excited about return for Salem HOF induction" Salem News, May 31, 2007, p. C1

Legendary Locals of Salem Curley, Malcolm, Dionne, p. 122