The 2025 offseason has been a rough ride for Penn State men’s basketball, with fans labeling it “downright ugly” after a series of setbacks. A recent Reddit thread on r/collegebasketball singled out the Nittany Lions as one of the most underwhelming teams in the transfer portal cycle, pointing to a lackluster haul of new talent.
With a depleted roster, an unproven freshman class, and minimal transfer activity, Penn State faces a steep climb in the Big Ten for the 2025-26 season.
Fans Roast Penn State Basketball’s Lackluster Offseason
Along with losing junior Swiss forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser to the 2025 NBA Draft, Penn State had a tough showing this spring convincing transfers to come to State College, PA.
As u/doesitmatta1010 writes in his Reddit post, “Penn State – Anything outside of a dead last finish in the Big 10 would surprise me. Losing Yanic Konan Niederhauser to the NBA stings, but it was ugly before that. Didn’t do much outside of 1 notable incoming freshman.”
Konan Niederhauser, a 7’0″ transfer from Northern Illinois, was the centerpiece of Penn State’s 2024-25 campaign, averaging 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and a Big Ten-leading 2.3 blocks per game.
His decision to stay in the NBA Draft after an impressive performance at the G League Elite Camp and NBA Draft Combine devastated the Nittany Lions’ frontcourt.
Niederhauser’s departure, combined with the loss of five seniors including, Ace Baldwin Jr., Zach Hicks, Nick Kern Jr., D’Marco Dunn, and Puff Johnson, and three 2024 recruits (Jahvin Carter, Miles Goodman, and Hudson Ward) to the portal, leaves Penn State with just nine scholarship players.
Penn State had only one addition in the portal: 6’7″ wing Josh Reed from Cincinnati, who averaged 4.7 points and 2.4 rebounds in 2024-25. Reed, a senior, started nine of Cincinnati’s final 10 games, but his 39% field goal percentage and 33% three-point shooting aren’t something to gush about.
RELATED: ‘Most Unprepared’ – Penn State Faces Harsh Reality After Yanic Konan Niederhauser’s Exit
The Nittany Lions targeted players like Izaiah Pasha and Amarri Monroe but failed to land them, leaving coach Mike Rhoades having a hard time making a worthwhile lineup. With the transfer portal closed and most high-caliber players committed, Penn State’s options are very limited.
Coach Mike Rhoades, in his third year, faces quite a rough offseason. His focus on size and shooting hasn’t materialized, with only Reed and the freshman class added so far. While they have bagged international talents like Juric, the clock is ticking, and the program is probably too late.
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