Pacifica Christian Orange County point guard Houston Mallette commits to Penn State

Pacifica Christian Orange County High boys’ basketball point guard Houston Mallette has committed to Penn State, he confirmed Tuesday.

Mallette said he felt that the academics at Penn State were good, adding that he developed a good relationship with Nittany Lions head coach Pat Chambers and enjoyed the culture within the team.

“It’s an opportunity to compete against pretty much the highest level in the country,” Mallette said of playing in the Big 10 Conference. “They made it very clear the role I expect to play and what they expect me to contribute to the team, and I look forward to making these big contributions and exceeding those expectations.”

Mallette enjoyed his second year running the Pacifica Christian offense in 2019-20, after transferring from Richmond Salesian College Prep as a freshman. He averaged 15.7 points and seven rebounds per game as a junior, while leading the Tritons in assists with 4.9 per game along with 2.1 steals per contest.

“He was one of our captains this year, and he was our vocal, fiery leader,” Tritons coach Jeff Berokoff said. “He makes others better, and it really, really stands out if you just sit there and you actually watch.”

Berokoff added that he felt that Mallette was one of the best point guards in the country.

The 6-foot-5 Mallette also made 80 three-pointers as a junior, and shot 40% from behind the arc. He helped Pacifica Christian (22-8) win a share of the San Joaquin League title — the first league title in the four-year varsity history of the program — and advance to the CIF Southern Section Division 2A quarterfinals.

Mallette is a two-time Daily Pilot Dream Team selection and could assume a bigger scoring role as a senior for Pacifica Christian. The Tritons graduate seven seniors, including Dream Team Player of the Year Judah Brown, who’s headed to St. Mary’s College.

“We’re super-young,” Mallette said. “I’m the only senior on the team as of right now, and we don’t have the depth we have last year. But I mean, I make no excuses. I’m ready to go in the gym, play my butt off every day and just make everyone around me better. I’m looking forward to it. It’s a big responsibility ... but I can’t wait to get back in the gym after quarantine ends and get started.”

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