Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the information on Scoonie Penn:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: James Lamont “Scoonie” Penn
  • Nationality: American
  • DOB: Born on January 9, 1977.
  • Hometown: Salem, Massachusetts, USA.
  • Height: 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 meters).
  • Weight: During his playing career, he weighed around 180 pounds (82 kg).
  • Wingspan: 5 feet 11 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 10 (US)
  • Number: Wore #12 during his college career at Ohio State.
  • Position: Point Guard.
  • High School: Salem High School in Salem, Massachusetts.
  • College:
    • Boston College (1995–1997)
    • Ohio State University (1998–2000)
  • NBA Draft: 2000 NBA Draft, Second Round, 57th overall by Atlanta Hawks
  • Teams Played For:
    • Teams in Europe:
      • Viola Reggio Calabria (Italy)
      • Pallacanestro Cantù (Italy)
      • AEK Athens (Greece)
      • SLUC Nancy (France)
      • Hapoel Jerusalem (Israel)
      • And others.
    • Did not play in the NBA.
  • Championship Rings:
    • Won championships in European leagues, including the Greek Cup with AEK Athens (2001).
  • Kids: Not widely documented.
  • Siblings: Not widely documented.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Scoonie Penn’s player archetype was that of a tough, score-first lead guard: an undersized but explosive point guard who could run offense, pressure the ball, and still carry a meaningful scoring load. At Ohio State, he handled the primary offensive role as a creator with the ball, leading the Buckeyes in assists while also supplying high-end scoring, and defensively he played as an aggressive perimeter ballhawk who consistently generated steals. Physically, Penn was small for the position at about 5-foot-10 to 5-foot-11, but he compensated with quickness, burst, and competitiveness, which helped shape a play style built on pace, shot creation, penetration, and pesky on-ball defense. Overall, he played like a high-motor floor general who blended playmaking with instant offense rather than operating as a purely pass-first setup guard. (Ohio State)

Sources:
Ohio State Buckeyes — James “Scoonie” Penn (2013) | Hall of Fame Inductees
Land-Grant Holy Land — Of course Scoonie Penn should be in the Ohio State Hall of Fame
ESPN — NBA DRAFT 2000 INDEX
CBS News — OSU Guard Penn To Return
Ohio State Buckeyes — Scoonie Penn Wins Prestigious Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award