Andy Gemao Scouting Report: The Filipino Point Guard Now at Penn State
Andy Gemao is a 6’1″ point guard from Iligan City who took the long way to American college basketball: a juniors title in Manila, a year in California, two years at a prep school in Toronto, and then a scholarship from Penn State. He is a freshman in the Big Ten for 2026-27. This report covers how he got there, what kind of player he is, and what has to happen for the NBA to become a real question.
Andy Gemao at a glance
| Full name | Apl Mcandrei “Andy” Gemao |
|---|---|
| Born | 2006, Iligan City, Philippines |
| Position | Point guard |
| Height | 6’1″ (Penn State listing) |
| Weight | About 170 lb |
| Wingspan | 6’3.25″ |
| Team | Penn State (Big Ten), freshman, No. 7 |
| Coach | Mike Rhoades |
| Previous | Royal Crown School (Toronto); Veritas Academy (California); Letran Squires |
| Recruiting rank | Unranked |
| Database status | Not listed (under 7 feet) |
| Last checked | 9 October 2026 |
Who Is Andy Gemao?
Gemao was born in 2006 in Iligan City, on the island of Mindanao. He became a national name in 2023 with the Letran Squires, averaging 18.5 points and leading them to the NCAA juniors championship, the school’s first in 22 years. He was named Finals MVP on March 16, 2023. His high game that season was 35 points.
He left for the United States that fall and enrolled at Veritas Academy in California. In March 2024 he came back to Manila with Fil-Am Nation Select and won the NBTC national title, averaging 15.8 points. According to Wikipedia, a broken bone in his hand kept him out of the 2024 FIBA U18 Asia Cup.
Two Years in Toronto
Gemao then moved to Royal Crown School in Toronto and stayed two seasons. The second was the one that got him recruited: 712 points and 256 assists for a team that went 19-2, and a place on the first team of the National Preparatory Association all-stars.
In June 2026 he went to the adidas Eurocamp in Italy, an event NBA scouts attend every year. He averaged 12.0 points and made 6 of his 13 three-point attempts.
How He Ended Up at Penn State
Gemao committed to Penn State on May 8, 2026. It was his first Division I offer, and he took it. The school announced the signing on May 27. He wears No. 7 and plays for head coach Mike Rhoades.
Two details are worth knowing. The major recruiting services did not rank him, and he arrives as a 20-year-old freshman, older than most of his class. Both facts say the same thing: he was a late find, not a long-tracked recruit.
Scouting Report: Strengths and Weaknesses
What he does well
- Scoring. He has put up points at every stop, in three countries: 18.5 a game at Letran, 15.8 at the NBTC finals and 712 points in his last prep season.
- Playmaking. 256 assists in his last prep season shows he runs an offense and does not just hunt shots.
- Shooting. Six of 13 from three at Eurocamp, against professional prospects.
- Winning. A juniors title, a national club title and a 19-2 prep season.
What holds him back
- Size. 6’1″ with a 6’3″ wingspan is small for the Big Ten and smaller still for the NBA.
- Level of competition. He has not yet played a college game. Prep numbers do not always travel.
- Age. At 20 he has less time to develop than a typical freshman.
Our video mentions a 40.5-inch vertical leap and a comparison to Allen Iverson. We could not find a published source for the vertical, so we leave it out of the fact box. The Iverson line is a style comparison, not a projection.
Is Andy Gemao an NBA Prospect?
Not yet. He is a college prospect who has to earn minutes first. Guards his size reach the NBA by being elite at something: shooting, speed or passing. Gemao has shown flashes of all three against prep and camp competition, and none of them yet against Big Ten defenders.
What makes him worth following is the trajectory. Three years ago he was a high school player in Manila. Today he is on a Big Ten roster, which is rare for a guard who learned the game in the Philippines.
What to Watch in 2026-27
Three numbers will tell the story: minutes per game, three-point percentage and assist-to-turnover ratio. If he is in the rotation by January and shooting well, his sophomore year gets interesting. If he redshirts or plays sparingly, that is normal for an unranked freshman and not a verdict.
For another Filipino player chasing the same league from a different direction, read our Kai Sotto scouting report and our page on Francis Lopez.
Why Andy Gemao is not in our database
The database only lists players who stand 7’0″ or taller, and Gemao is a 6’1″ guard. It does include every active 7-footer we could find, including the ones he will face in the Big Ten, sorted by height and filterable by country.
Sources: Penn State Athletics, Nittany Sports Now, StateCollege.com, Spin.ph, All-Star Magazine and Wikipedia. Last checked 9 October 2026.