BREAKING: Penn State hoops lands second Class of 2024 pledge
Penn State basketball head coach Mike Rhoades and his staff welcomed their first traditional recruit for the Class of 2024 over the summer. The addition, Jahvin Carter, a 6-foot-3 combo guard out of Alcoa, Tenn., announced his decision to play for the Nittany Lions in late June.
Friday, the Nittany Lions added another.
Dominick Stewart, a 6-foot-5 combo guard out of SoCal Academy, announced his commitment to Penn State via social media. Stewart is ranked No. 184 overall for the Class of 2024 in the On3 Industry Ranking.
He made the call following an official visit to Penn State the weekend of Sept. 2 as the Nittany Lion football program hosted West Virginia at Beaver Stadium for a nationally televised season kickoff.
Of the trip, Stewart told Blue White Illustrated the Nittany Lions received glowing marks. “It was great,” he said via text. “I loved it.”
Traveling to Butler last weekend for an official visit, his second, Stewart shut down his recruitment.
Penn State and Dominick Stewart recruitment
Dominick Stewart popped onto Penn State’s radar this summer, along with a host of other schools, thanks to his offseason work. Along with an offer from the Nittany Lions on July 24, Stewart also added offers from George Mason, Cal, James Madison, Butler, Creighton, and Mississippi State all before the end of the month.
This was in part thanks to his performance with Team Durant on the Nike EYBL AAU circuit. One outlet tabbed Stewart to its All-Breakout team for his 9.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game during the third session in the spring. And, at Peach Jam in July, he picked up the same distinction thanks to his 10.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game.
Following his summer breakout, Stewart headed west. Spending last season with Mt. Zion Prep in Maryland, the Baltimore-area product has since transferred to Southern California Academy. He also reclassified back to the Class of 2024 after spending some time tabbed as a ’25 prospect.
Scouting Dominick Stewart
Stewart’s breakout summer wasn’t just about how well he played on the AAU circuit. Rather, he offered a glimpse of what Penn State believes can be outstanding potential at the college level.
Skilled as a shooter, passer, and scorer, Stewart understands the game and puts that high IQ on display on both ends of the floor. He’s a big guard at 6-foot-5, fitting the mold of combo guards at the next level. Putting it all together, with high potential for development, he’s a fit at Penn State with his best basketball ahead of him.
Next steps
After landing Stewart’s commitment, the Nittany Lions are not yet done on the recruiting trail. This weekend, Rhoades and his staff will host Carter for an official visit. Additionally, Stewart’s SoCal Academy teammate Miles Goodman, a power forward, is set to take an official visit to Penn State.
The Nittany Lions have, at minimum, three scholarships to fill ahead of the 2024-25 season. Qudus Wahab, Leo O’Boyle, RayQuawndis Mitchell are all on bonus seasons of eligibility. Meanwhile, Ace Baldwin and Puff Johnson are fourth-year performers with an extra year of eligibility remaining, should they choose it.
