About a month ago, Penn State center Yanic Konan Niederhauser took an important decision down to the wire.
Konan Niederhauser declared for the 2025 NBA Draft back in April, but he left the door open on returning to Happy Valley for his senior year. However, right at the NCAA early entry withdrawal deadline on May 28, Konan Niederhauser announced he’ll remain in the player pool.
The Switzerland native spent one season with the Nittany Lions, averaging 12.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He finished the season strong with multiple standout performances, earning himself an All-Big Ten honorable mention.
What really set Konan Niederhauser apart was his pre-draft process at both the G League Elite Camp and NBA Draft Combine, where he tested well with truly eye-popping numbers and showed off his skills as a big man against fellow prospects.
Forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser (14) dunks the ball during the Penn State men’s basketball game vs Purdue at the Bryce Jordan Center on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions defeat the Boilermakers 81-70.
Katelyn Supancik
Metrics
Height without shoes: 6-foot-11.25
Weight: 242.6 pounds
Wingspan: 7-foot-3.25
Hand length: 9.5 inches
Hand width: 9.0 inches
Max vertical: 37 inches
Standing vertical: 33.5 inches
Shuttle run: 2.84 seconds
Projections
Projected draft range: Late Round 1 or early Round 2
Player Comparison: C Nick Richards (Phoenix Suns)
Scouting report
As a 7-footer, Konan Niederhauser’s skill set revolves around being a dominant paint presence.
His size and athleticism allows him to be a lob threat and to thrive on pick-and-roll plays, and his high motor in the paint expands to the defensive end. Konan Niederhauser accumulated 67 blocks last season — the second-most in the Big Ten.
Plays like his dunk late in the first half against Ohio State in January prove his ceiling in this role. The paint presence potential of Konan Niederhauser was on display at the combine scrimmages as well, tallying 19 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks across two games.
While he can be dominant down low, his issue is a lack of mid-range or long-range shots in his game. Konan Niederhauser only totaled 11 3-point attempts with Penn State last season, and he didn’t take many shots at the combine either.
Forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser (14) passes the ball during the Penn State men’s basketball game against Buffalo at the Bryce Jordan Center on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024 in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions defeat the Bulls 87-64.
Katelyn Supancik
Konan Niederhauser acknowledged the lack of shooting in his game back in March, saying “I want to be able to knock down shots again.” It can be assumed he’s made progress toward reaching that goal since he knocked down 14-of-25 3-point shots in a drill at the G League Elite Camp, but he’s yet to show it in a game setting.
He also had some fouling issues early on in 2024-25, but those problems didn’t come up as much as the season went on, making it less of a concern.
Best team fit: Los Angeles Lakers
A recent issue that has plagued the Los Angeles Lakers is a lack of size. Konan Niederhauser would instantly help alleviate that with his 7-foot, 242-pound frame.
The Lakers also have point guard Luka Dončić, who dished out 7.7 assists per game last season. Giving Konan Niederhauser a passer like that should help him excel in his lob-threat trait as soon as his rookie year if he sees the floor.
Pairing that aspect with LeBron James, and the team could have a new dynamic trio. Konan Niederhauser might not see many minutes as a rookie, but the playmaking abilities of James and Dončić combined with an actual paint presence should allow the Penn State product to earn more playing time than expected.
The only issue with the Lakers as a landing spot is that they only have the No. 55 overall selection in this draft. A trade up would almost certainly have to happen for Los Angeles to secure Konan Niederhauser. Regardless, it’s still the best place for him to end up.
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