The Salem News | All-time Salem hoop legend recalls ’95 state title, gives advice to this year’s squad
Posted on: March 12, 2026
By Phil Stacey | Executive Sports Editor
As one of the greatest high school basketball players in Massachusetts state history, Salem native James ‘Scoonie’ Penn won a lot over the course of his preeminent career.
The mercurial 5-foot-9 guard and all-time leading scorer at Salem High (2,189 points) won Big East Rookie of the Year at Boston College in 1996, then was the Big East Tournament MVP as a sophomore. After transferring to Ohio State, Penn became a two-time All-Big Ten selection, led the Buckeyes to the 1999 Final Four and was a Second Team consensus All-American in 2000. As a nine-year professional player in Europe, he won MVPs, league titles and various other accolades.
