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Penn State hoops notebook: New offer extended, roster updated, more

nate-mug-10.12.14by: Nate Bauer06/15/25NateBauerBWI
penn-state-hoops-notebook-new-offer-extended-roster-updated-more
Penn State point guard Kayden Mingo moved in this weekend. (Photo courtesy Penn State Athletics)

The Penn State men’s basketball program is back to work. This weekend marked an important mile marker for the Nittany Lions as they begin the process of building a new-look team ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Welcoming eight new players to campus for move-in over the weekend, the next steps will be taken on the hardwood.

“Our guys will show up for summer access, summer school, June 14. We’ll have them on campus for eight weeks until August 12. So we’ll get to work. We’ll get after it and build this team and bond,” head coach Mike Rhoades said. “Our staff will be on the road for two weekends in June, live period, and then two different periods in July, and we’ll have guys visiting campus and all that.”

Juggling recruiting, player acquisition, and organized team practices in the coming weeks and months, here’s a look at what’s new for the Nittany Lions this weekend:

New Class of 2026 offer out

The Penn State men’s basketball program continues to search out and identify additions to its roster ahead of the 2025-26 season. That hasn’t stopped head coach Mike Rhoades and his staff from also making a new push into the Nittany Lions’ Class of 2026 recruiting efforts.

This weekend, that took shape with a scholarship offer extended to On3 Industry Ranking four-star combo guard Trent Perry. Other programs to have previously offered the Frisco, Texas product include Texas A&M, SMU, TCU, Texas, and Ole Miss, among others.

Perry was a standout last week in South Carolina at the NBPA Top 100 event in Rock Hill. From On3 reporter Jamie Shaw:

3-Star SF Trent Perry plays with a non-stop motor. He is consistently diving in the floor or doing his best to create extra possessions for his team. Most of his offense is through lobs or in transition. He is going to need to develop the creation and jump shot, but he has a clear affect on the games he plays.

Classified as a combo guard, Perry fits more as a wing. He’s currently ranked No. 83 overall in the Class of 2026.

Roster turns over

The wait is over for the official additions on the Penn State men’s basketball roster. In light of an exodus of seniors including Ace Baldwin, D’Marco Dunn, Nick Kern, Zach Hicks, and Puff Johnson, plus transfers from Kachi Nzeh, Jahvin Carter, Hudson Ward, and Miles Goodman, and the NBA Draft exit of Yanic Konan Niederhauser, the Nittany Lions have an entirely new look this summer.

This weekend, that meant the addition of seven true freshmen to the roster, plus Cincinnati senior transfer Josh Reed.

The original Class of 2025 signees are highlighted by Kayden Mingo, plus Mason Blackwood and Justin Hauser. They were joined by spring signings of Chris Letito, Reggie Grodin, and Ivan Juric. And, the international market helped produce an important addition with guard Melih Tunca from Turkey.

The official new roster lists out 11 players, eight new to the program and seven classifying as true freshmen, including 19-year old Tunca.

Movin’ on

Movin’ in

Some scenes from Penn State’s move in weekend for the basketball program.

Where things stand for Penn State

Guards Freddie Dilione, Dominick Stewart, Kayden Mingo, Reggie Grodin, Melih Tunca
Wings Eli Rice, Mason Blackwood, Josh Reed, Chris Lotito
Bigs Justin Hauser, Ivan Juric

Penn State scholarship breakdown by class

Fifth year (0): 
Fourth year (1): Josh Reed
Third year (2): Freddie Dilione, Eli Rice
Second year (1): Dominick Stewart
First year (7): Justin Hauser, Mason Blackwood, Kayden Mingo, Ivan Juric, Reggie Grodin, Melih Tunca, Chris Lotito

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