Penn State men’s basketball has been dealt a significant blow as star center Yanic Konan Niederhauser has opted to stay in the 2025 NBA Draft, forgoing his senior college season in order to pursue his dream.
Head coach Mike Rhoades now faces a roster stripped of interior presence and depth. The Nittany Lions will turn to veteran guard Freddie Dilione V for leadership, while freshman Kayden Mingo is expected to take on a major role right away.
With a once-promising outlook now shadowed by uncertainty, Penn State’s plans for next season have been dramatically upended.
Penn State Left Reeling As Yanic Konan Niederhauser Stays in NBA Draft Pool
Penn State men’s basketball is facing a serious setback following confirmation that Niederhauser will remain in the 2025 NBA Draft. His monumental decision, sparked by a strong showing in the G League Elite Camp, has left the Nittany Lions scrambling to fill a massive void.
During a recent appearance on “Locked On College Basketball,” Andy Patton didn’t mince words about Penn State’s situation.
“One team that stands out to me as a team that seemed the most unprepared to lose their star player to the NBA Draft is Penn State,” he said.
The 6-foot-11 Niederhauser averaged 12.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in the regular season after transferring from Northern Illinois. His blend of efficiency, size, and defensive presence made him a force in the paint for Penn State.
Initially not viewed as a surefire draft entrant, Niederhauser gained momentum during the draft process. He averaged 15.5 points and six rebounds in two games at the G League Elite Camp, which earned him an invitation to the NBA Draft Combine.
“At the time [of the G League Camp], he was not really considered a super serious draft prospect,” Patton explained. “But he tested extremely well at the combine. He did really well in the scrimmages, and at that point, it started to feel like…there’s some real momentum for Niederhauser to stay in the draft.”
Watched Yanic Konan Niederhauser work out, few prospects creating more buzz entering scrimmages after Elite Camp and testing. 6-11 barefoot, 33 no-step vert, 9-4 reach. Plays high above rim with deeper finishing package and career 10.1 BLK%. Looking very draftable in Chicago. pic.twitter.com/Qmr6hisKKG
— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) May 14, 2025
That momentum turned into a permanent departure.
“They started the offseason…with the expectation that Niederhauser was going to be back,” Patton said, adding that the team “does not seem like they have prepared for life without” him.
Penn State Looking to Address Hole in the Frontcourt
The team’s only transfer portal addition so far is shooting guard Josh Reed from Cincinnati, a move that doesn’t address the gaping hole in the frontcourt. Compounding the problem, Penn State already lost two other centers — Miles Goodman and Kachi Nzeh — to the transfer portal.
That leaves freshmen Justin Houser, ranked outside the top 200 nationally, and European prospect Ivan Juric as the only current big men on the roster.
“If [Houser] is who’s going to replace Niederhauser, that’s very problematic for Penn State,” Patton said bluntly.
Unless the program lands multiple frontcourt additions in the coming weeks, the Nittany Lions are likely to play small-ball out of necessity. With few quality bigs left in the portal and a star unexpectedly gone, a season that once carried quiet optimism has shifted toward uncertainty.
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