Demetrius Lilley, a Lower Merion High School graduate, and basketball player for Penn State University is having a transformational year on the court, writes Daniel Gallen for 247sports.com.

Lilley had a pivotal decision to make at the end of his freshman year last year. His coach Mike Rhoades told him in the spring “If you want to get on the court and help us in our style of play, you got to get in the best shape of your life. Or you’re just not going to play. You might, but it’s going to be really, really hard.”

During his freshman year at 6-foot-10 and 260 pounds, he only played 14 minutes over five games. Rhoades told him he needed to lose weight and work out more.

“I was like, Wow, OK, that was very hard to hear. But I did it. Went home, lost like 40, 45 pounds. Ate right when I went home, worked out hard when I went home, came back a whole different person.”

Now in his sophomore season, Lilley is spending more on the court and becoming a key player on the team. He set a career-high with eight points in a game against Minnesota and averaged 4.5 rebounds per game.

Read more about Lower Merion High School graduate Demetrius Lilley and his transformational year at 247sports.com.

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