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Penn State hoops picks up second Class of 2026 commitment

nate-mug-10.12.14by: Nate Bauer09/03/25NateBauerBWI
penn-state-hoops-picks-up-second-class-2026-commitment
Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades (Photo by Steve Manuel/BWI)

The Penn State men’s basketball program made the most of its big recruiting weekend to begin the fall semester. The Nittany Lions welcomed On3 Industry Ranking three-star wing Dionycius Bakare, the first Class of 2026 commitment earlier this summer, and three-star forward Jamison White.

White is adding his name to the list, announcing his decision to join Penn State’s recruiting class on Wednesday. He is the nation’s No. 294-ranked player in the On3 Industry Ranking, carrying a three-star rating with a Rivals ranking of No. 46 nationally among all power forwards.

A key piece of Bradley Beal Elite’s run through Peach Jam this summer, winning a second tournament in as many years to cap the AAU season, White makes for an intriguing addition. He’s now up to 6-foot-8 coming out of East St. Louis High School and is particularly hot out of an impactful summer on the hardwood.

Over eight games played on a roster of just seven players with Brad Beal Elite, he averaged 14.6 points per game to go along with 7.6 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. From the field, he knocked down 46.5 percent of his shots while adding a 10-of-22 mark from beyond the arc. His strength offensively is catch-and-shoot and attacking the rim with straight line drives.

White picked up his Penn State offer on July 17 amid a run of interest that included offers from Kansas State, George Mason, and Vanderbilt, in addition to his existing offers from Iowa and St. Louis, among others including Marquette and Providence, who’d both shown heightened interest.

White is also the son of former NBA star Jahidi White, a Georgetown product who spent seven seasons with the Washington Wizards, Phoenix Suns, and Charlotte Bobcats.

Penn State plays weekend host

Bakare put the Nittany Lions on the board for the Class of 2026 when he pledged to the program amid his own Peach Jam run. Originally from Ontario, Canada, he played with U-Play Canada in the Nike EYBL AAU circuit while enrolled at The Phelps School in Malvern, Pa., for his high school ball. In summer play, Bakare was particularly effective for an otherwise underwhelming team.

From his commitment:
Bakare has been among the most efficient scorers this year in the EYBL, producing 13.7 points per game over just 12.2 possessions. The number puts him fifth in the circuit for points per possession at 1.12.
Last season at The Phelps School, he averaged 14 points and 4 rebounds per game, hitting 50 percent of his shots from the floor, 40 percent from beyond the arc, and 88 percent of his free throws.
Bakare chose the Nittany Lions over offers from Arizona State, Washington, South Florida, and SMU, among others. Penn State offered him on May 20.

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