To say the least, there was some roster turnover for Penn State this offseason.<\/p>\n
Veterans Puff Johnson, D\u2019Marco Dunn, Zach Hicks, Nick Kern Jr. and Ace Baldwin Jr. all exhausted their eligibility. Forward Miles Goodman, guard Jahvin Carter, forward Kachi Nzeh, forward Hudson Ward and walk-on forward Joe Sedora all transferred out.<\/p>\n
To top it all off, center Yanic Konan Niederhauser left for the NBA draft.<\/p>\n
In turn, the Nittany Lions added freshmen Kayden Mingo, the highest-rated recruit in program history, along with six other first-year signees and one walk-on. They also signed Cincinnati wing Josh Reed and UIC big Sa\u0161a Ciani via the transfer portal.<\/p>\n
Thus, this summer is a key developmental period for the overall young squad in State College, and Mike Rhoades shared his philosophy for these months.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole theme of the summer is build and bond,\u201d Rhoades said on July 15. \u201cLet\u2019s build our team together, and we got to bond.\u201d<\/p>\n
If the team wants success in the Big Ten, it\u2019s important all of its players build on their talent.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
All players line up to sing the alma mater after concluding the Penn State men\u2019s basketball game against Maryland in the Bryce Jordan Center on Saturday, Mar. 1, 2025 in University Park, Pa. The Terrapins beat the Nittany Lions 68-64.<\/p>\n
Samantha Oropeza<\/p>\n
For instance, Mingo projects as the starting point guard. While he\u2019s exhibited characteristics of a leader to Rhoades this summer, he\u2019s only a freshman, and growing pains have been noticed by the coach.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Mingo\u2019s natural talent provides a strong base to develop on the bright spots he\u2019s had this summer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want (Mingo) to be super aggressive. I want his natural leadership skills to take over,\u201d Rhoades said. \u201cHe plays that way, he acts that way and we\u2019re going to continue to build on that.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the frontcourt, Ciani will likely be the starter at the five once the season begins. Standing 6-foot-10 and 240 pounds, he\u2019s considered undersized for a starting center in the Big Ten, but his size stacks up similarly to former Nittany Lion standout John Harrar, so it\u2019s possible Ciani can become a reliable starter at the position after an offseason of building.<\/p>\n
However, even if Ciani reaches his full potential, there will still be a considerable amount of minutes available for his backup, which is where Ivan Juri\u0107 or Justin Houser will come into play.<\/p>\n
The two freshmen 7-footers will have to learn and pick up on tendencies relatively quickly. About 15 minutes per game could be available behind Ciani come November, so this summer of building is key for Juri\u0107 and Houser.<\/p>\n
Now, the players can make strides in their development, but that\u2019s not all it takes for a successful team. They need to have a bond to mesh well on the court, showcasing enough chemistry to correctly run schemes.<\/p>\n
Luckily for Penn State, by having summer workouts, the team is already with each other most of the time during these months.<\/p>\n
\u201c(We\u2019ve) spent a lot of time together in the gym, in the weight room, on the track early in the mornings and then, of course, we do have free time,\u201d Rhoades said. \u201cWe have time to sit around and communicate with each other and interact with each other. That\u2019s how you build a bond that goes beyond the sport we\u2019re playing.\u201d<\/p>\n
As the roster stands, there\u2019s 10 new faces and just three returnees \u2014 guard Freddie Dilione V, wing Eli Rice and guard Dominick Stewart. Rhoades mentioned that the trio has gone out of their way to start facilitating a bond.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Guard Nick Kern Jr. (3) shoots a free throw at the Penn State men’s basketball THON game against Washington on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025 in the Bryce Jordan Center in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions lost to the Huskies 75-73.<\/p>\n
Jacob DeLuca<\/p>\n
Dilione, Rice and Stewart have only been in Happy Valley for a year, and they accounted for 15.5% of the team\u2019s minutes and 14.6% of the team\u2019s scoring from last season. While they might be younger than typical returning veterans, it\u2019s a role they\u2019ve \u201cembraced.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody wants a new role. Everybody wants a promotion,\u201d Dilione said July 15. \u201cAs we take this promotion, we\u2019re learning at the same time, so we\u2019ve been taking it day by day.\u201d<\/p>\n
The dividends of a full summer focused on building and bonding will be seen in the coming weeks, but for now, Rhoades has overall positive remarks for his squad.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been pleased with our guys,\u201d Rhoades said. \u201cI thought a lot of guys showed up ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
MORE BASKETBALL COVERAGE<\/p>\n