Penn State hoops sets jersey numbers for 2025-26 campaign

The new numbers are in for Penn State basketball. Ahead of Mike Rhoades‘ third season with the Nittany Lion program, major turnover on the roster has opened the door to many new faces and, with it, new numbers.

Here is the full rundown:

1 – Mason Blackwood
3 – Ivan Juric
4 – Kayden Mingo
5 – Freddie Dilione
7 – Dominick Stewart
9 – Melih Tunca
10 – Josh Reed
11 – Eli Rice
12 – Reggie Grodin
16 – Tibor Mirtic
21 – Justin Houser
22 – Sasa Ciani
30 – Chris Lotito

Announced by the program on Thursday, the 13-man roster will feature 10 new players on the roster. Among them, the Nittany Lions are welcoming eight players with freshman eligibility, with necessary caveats.

The fall signing class of 2025 was made up of star point guard Kayden Mingo (No. 4), forward Mason Blackwood (No. 1), and big man Justin Houser (No. 21). In the spring, they were joined by the late additions of Ivan Juric (No. 3) from Sunrise Christian Academy, Reggie Grodin (No. 12) from Newman School, and walk-on Chris Lotito (No. 30) from Don Bosco Prep.

Also included in the allotment of freshman-eligible players, however, are two older newcomers to the program. The last signing, Tibor Mirtic (No. 16) is a 22-year old, 6-8 power forward from Slovenia. The second important international addition is 6-foot-5 Turkish guard Melih Tunca, who just competed in the 2025 FIBA U20 EuroBasket Tournament.

While Tunca and Mirtic have yet to arrive to the program, two transfer portal additions are already with the Nittany Lions this summer. Big man Sasa Ciani (No. 22) arrives from University of Illinois Chicago with junior eligibility, while 6-foot-8 wing Josh Reed will close out his senior season at Penn State after spending his first three years with Cincinnati. Reed is the only true senior in the program this season.

Three players return from the 2024-25 roster. Stewart and Rice will each keep their numbers, 5 and 11, respectively, from their first seasons in the program. Dilione, meanwhile, will don the No. 5 jersey with Puff Johnson running out of eligibility this offseason.

Embracing the newness of the entire operation, Rhoades told reporters this month how critical the building process has been during the summer months.

“The whole theme of our summer is build and bond. Let’s build our team together, and we gotta bond,” Rhoades said. “We’ve spent a lot of time together in the gym, in the weight room, on the track early in the mornings. And then, of course, when we do have free time and we have time to sit around and communicate with each other and interact with each other, that’s how you build a bond that goes beyond the sport we’re playing.

“It’s always been really important to me. Some years it’s easier because people have been around each other when, like right now for us, we have a lot of new faces. So we’re building relationships. It’s also fun too, and it’s refreshing for a coaching staff too, because you really get to know your guys that you recruited and brought here together, but you also see the returning guys have to go out of their way to build relationships with the new guys. I like that. I think some of that off the court bonding is carrying over to the court. But that’s number one on the list. Without a doubt. Build and bond.”

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