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Penn State lands first Class of 2026 verbal commitment

nate-mug-10.12.14by: Nate Bauer07/08/25NateBauerBWI
penn-state-lands-first-class-2026-verbal-commitment
Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades landed his first commitment of the Class of 2026. (Photo: Steve Manuel/BWI)

Penn State basketball is on the board with its first verbal commitment of the Class of 2026 cycle. Dionycius Bakare, a 6-foot-5 wing originally from Ontario, Canada, has made the call to continue his college career with the Nittany Lions.

Bakare is with U-Play Canada in the Nike EYBL AAU circult, and plays his high school ball at The Phelps School in Malvern, Pa.

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.

Dionycius Bakare Highlights

Penn State basketball continues summer work

Penn State basketball continues to work through its summer access period, with new players arriving for the start of eight weeks of workouts last month.

“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.”

Seven true freshmen have been added to the roster this summer, plus Cincinnati senior transfer Josh Reed, and junior transfer Sasa Ciani. 

The original Class of 2025 signees are highlighted by Kayden Mingo, plus Mason Blackwood and Justin Houser. 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 12 players, nine new to the program and seven classifying as true freshmen, including 19-year old Tunca.

Where things stand

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, Tibor Mirtic, Saša Ciani

Penn State scholarship breakdown by class

Fifth year (0): 
Fourth year (1): Josh Reed
Third year (3): Freddie Dilione, Eli Rice, Saša Ciani
Second year (1): Dominick Stewart
First year (8): Justin Hauser, Mason Blackwood, Kayden Mingo, Ivan Juric, Reggie Grodin, Melih Tunca, Chris Lotito, Tibor Mirtic

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