Penn State hoops offers elite Class of '25 prospect
The ongoing trickle of new scholarship offers from Penn State to Class of 2024 and Class of 2025 prospects continued Friday. Announced via Instagram, Alier Maluk, a 6-foot-10, 180-pound power forward out of Imani Christian Academy in Pittsburgh, Pa., is the latest to pick up a Nittany Lion offer.
And, it’s a big one.
According to the On3 Industry Rankings, Maluk is a four-star prospect at this early point in the cycle. However, he carries an overall ranking of No. 21, tabbed as the fourth-best power forward and second-best prospect in Pennsylvania for the Class of 2025. Among the recruiting services, Rivals.com has Maluk as a five-star prospect with the loftiest overall ranking at No. 16 nationally.
Other early offers to Maluk include N.C. State, West Virginia, Seton Hall, Texas A&M, Oregon, Auburn, Pittsburgh, and LSU, among others.
Maluk is coming out of a 2022-23 season in which Imani Christian Academy notched the Class 1A PIAA state championship. Within the game, Maluk notched a team-high 22 points for the Saints.
The offer is the fifth to come from Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades to prospects this week. Other prospects to receive offers from the Nittany Lions this week include Austin Swartz, Darrion Sutton, and Dellquan Warren in the Class of 2024, and Jordan Scott in the Class of 2025.
Scouting Alier Maluk
From On3 national recruiting analyst Jamie Shaw:
“Alier Maluk has an intriguing frame. Good size and he moves very fluidly. Was impressed with how he attacked traffic rebounds with two hands, showed some toughness.
“He will need some strength in his base as he got pushed off his spots. But he had touch around the basket and knocked down a catch-and-shoot middie. A lot of tools, still figuring it all out, but there are some good things there.”
