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BB RECRUITING

Mike Rhoades is already impressing a top Penn State recruit

Mike Rhoades has already made a great impression with one of Penn State’s top targets.

Published

5 months ago

on

Penn State basketball recruiting, Penn State's Mike Rhoades
Dec 29, 2019; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; A general view of Bryce Jordan Center prior to the game between the Cornell Big Red and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Since Micah Shrewsberry left, the Nittany Lions have been scrambling to get a new coaching staff and new players in place ahead of the 2023-24 season. Penn State’s new head coach — Mike Rhoades — has already done an impressive job with the transfer portal and by retaining key younger players like Kanye Clary. Now, Penn State basketball is trending with a four-star forward, who has enjoyed Mike Rhoades thus far.

Penn State basketball trending for four-star forward in 2023 recruiting class

This afternoon, one of the top-ranked Penn State basketball recruiting targets released his top five remaining schools, and the Nittany Lions are in some elite company. North Carolina, Villanova, St. Johns, and Nebraska are alongside Penn State as contenders for four-star wing Brady Dunlap.

Brady Dunlap is a 6-foot-7, 180-pound small forward out of Harvard Westlake High School in California. He is rated as a four-star recruit by On3 and ESPN and is ranked as the No. 86 player in the 2023 class, the No. 21 small forward, and the No. 15 player in the state of California — needless to say, Dunlap is a major Penn State basketball recruiting target.

Brady Dunlap has been impressed with Penn State’s Mike Rhoades so far

Despite Mike Rhoades only being hired a few weeks ago, one of his top recruiting targets is already impressed.

“Coach Rhoades has been great; he has worked very hard and has made an impression on me and my family,” Dunlap told Joe Tipton of On3. “The whole staff seems to be a family along with the a winning culture. The school itself is very enticing with the history of athletic success. I can’t wait to visit.”

If Penn State’s Mike Rhoades and his new-look Penn State coaching staff can continue to make a lasting impression on this major four-star forward recruit, the Nittany Lions could start adding some elite-level talent just weeks into his tenure in State College. With some solid portal usage and more, the hoops rebuild could be over much faster than initially expected.

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BASKETBALL

BREAKING: Penn State basketball lands Dominick Stewart

The Penn State basketball team has landed a new commit in the 2024 class today.

Published

2 days ago

on

September 22, 2023

By

Mike Rhoades, Penn State basketball, Dominic Stewart
Dec 5, 2018; Austin, TX, USA; Virginia Commonwealth Rams head coach Mike Rhoades walks the baseline watching the team play during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Frank Erwin Center. Mandatory Credit: John Gutierrez-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Rhoades and the rest of the Penn State men’s basketball recruiting staff got some good news today from the recruiting trail as the 2023-2024 season inches closer. The 2023 schedule was released this week and tip-off is nearing closer. But before that takes place, Rhoades and his staff have been hard at work trying to secure the future. A step in that direction was taken today, as the Nittany Lions landed top prospect Dominick Stewart. 

Penn State basketball lands Dominick Stewart

Class of 2024 guard Dominick Stewart announced his commitment to the Nittany Lions on Friday afternoon. Dominick is a 6’5 guard from Maryland and is currently playing at the Southern California Academy in California. He is the 184th-ranked player nationally and a three-star by the ON3 industry rankings. He carries an impressive offer list that includes Butler, Creighton, Mississippi State, and Cal. Penn State offered back in July after Dominick’s very strong showing on the AAU circuit which included All-Breakout team selections at Peach Jam in the Nike EYBL session #3. This commitment comes from a recent visit he took to Happy Valley at the beginning of the month. 

Stewart looks like a good get, especially after that impressive AAU run that got many schools noticing him. He is a smart and skilled player who can fit into many lineups and spots on the court. He is a good shooter with a great jumper. His jump shot is smooth and quick which allows him to avoid contests and score in bunches when he gets hot.

He processes the game at an impressive speed and is constantly making the right play. Not your typical lead ball playmaker, but is a fantastic connector, keeping the ball moving and hitting the open man. Those smarts apply to the other side of the ball too. Stewart uses his good size at hoard effectively to guard up and down the lineup. He is a good and willing team defender which fits the Rhoades style well. 

Where does Stewart fit in at Penn State?

Stewart, originally a member of the 2025 class, becomes the second member of Penn State’s 2024 class after reclassifying. He joins fellow guard Jahvin Carter as the first high school recruit to commit to Penn State since Mike Rhoades took over. Jahvin, who committed back in June, and Stewart make an interesting pair in the backcourt and share a lot of skills that the staff clearly values. The biggest one is their basketball IQ. They should both be important pieces in building a smart and skilled program for the future of Penn State Basketball. 

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BASKETBALL

ICYMI: Penn State basketball off to solid start with first 2024 commitment

After rebuilding the roster for the upcoming season, Penn State basketball is already attacking the trail with its first 2024 commitment.

Published

3 months ago

on

July 3, 2023

By

Penn State basketball, first 2024 commitment
Dec 18, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; A general view of Bryce Jordan Center prior to the game between the Canisius Golden Griffins and Penn State Nittany Lions. Mandatory Credit: Matthew OHaren-USA TODAY Sports

Incoming head coach Mike Rhoades and the Penn State basketball staff performed yeoman’s work to rebuild the Nittany Lions roster ahead of the 2023-24 season. Penn State retained only three players – Kanye Clary, Jameel Brown, and Demetrius Lilley – from last year’s NCAA Tournament squad. Since arriving in Happy Valley in March, Rhoades and his staff retooled the Penn State roster primarily through the transfer portal, with some key commitments sprinkled in. Now, the Nittany Lions are forging ahead with recruiting for next year, and are off to a solid start with their first 2024 commitment.

Jahvin Carter becomes first 2024 commitment for Penn State basketball

Jahvin Carter became the first commitment for Penn State basketball in the class of 2024 on June 26. The 6-2, 175-pound shooting guard is already Alcoa (TN) High School’s all-time leading scorer with over 1,800 points. As a junior, he helped lead the Tornadoes to a 24-8 record en route to a Tennessee Class 2-A state championship in March. You can watch Carter’s highlights from Alcoa’s state semifinal matchup below.

According to On3, Mike Rhoades visited Carter and watched him play on June 23. The visit came a week after Penn State officially offered the shooting guard on June 16. Less than three days later, Carter officially became Penn State basketball’s first 2024 commitment.

Although Jahvin Carter is currently an unranked prospect, his profile is starting to get attention on the national stage. After earning his first offer from Georgia Tech in August of 2022, Carter received two offers from Middle Tennessee State (June 19) and Penn State (June 26) last month. Now with the first commitment in tow, Mike Rhoades and the Penn State basketball staff will look to build on their early recruiting success for the remainder of the 2024 cycle.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on our social media. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!

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BB RECRUITING

Penn State Nittany Lions contact major five-star recruit, No. 1 player in Pennsylvania

Mikes Rhoades and the Penn State Nittany Lions are swinging for the fences right now.

Published

3 months ago

on

June 15, 2023

By

Penn State Nittany Lions, No. 1 player in Pennsylvania
Nov 10, 2021; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; General view of a Nike Penn State Nittany Lions basketball prior to the game against the Youngstown State Penguins at the Bryce Jordan Center. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Last night, the contact window for the 2025 recruiting class opened, granting head coaches, including Mike Rhoades of Penn State basketball, the opportunity to reach out to recruits in the 2025 cycle. According to recent reports, Rhoades is aiming high and has made contact with a prominent five-star guard, Meleek Thomas, who holds the title of the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania.

Penn State basketball is targeting a major five-star recruit, the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania.

Meleek Thomas is bound to be a top target for the Penn State Nittany Lions in the 2025 class, as he is the top in-state recruit on the market. Currently, as a member of the 2025 recruiting class, Thomas ranks among the nation’s best, coming in at No. 6 in the nation, No. 1 among point guards in the class, and is the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania, according to the 247 Sports composite rankings.

Since taking over as head coach, Mike Rhoades has done a great job with the Penn State Nittany Lions during a grueling rebuild. So far, it appears that the Blue and White may be in good shape to contend for a top NIT seed or perhaps turn heads en route to another NCAA Tournament berth. Regardless, the future looks bright ahead of Rhoades’ first season as head coach.

If Mike Rhoades can somehow land Meleek Thomas in the 2025 class, it would be monumental for the entire Penn State basketball program, which seems to be on the rise with more and more fans caring about the team’s recent success. It is still quite early in Thomas’s recruitment to start guessing where he will end up, but it is unquestionably a great early sign that the Nittany Lions are aiming high at the moment.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on our social media. It’s due to your support that we can become one of the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlets!

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