Penn State big man enters portal for second time

The mass exodus from Happy Valley continues this weekend for Penn State basketball. On Friday, sophomore forward Kachi Nzeh became the fourth scholarship player and the fifth Nittany Lion overall to enter the transfer portal.

Nzeh’s departure was first reported by On3’s Jamie Shaw. This will be the Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, native’s second venture into the portal, transferring to the Nittany Lions from Xavier last offseason.

Penn State sophomore big man Kachi Nzeh has entered the Transfer Portal @On3sports has learned.https://t.co/BFfeRVOzXw pic.twitter.com/fYtSaj2Fhy

— Jamie Shaw (@JamieShaw5) April 18, 2025

Nzeh made 29 appearances, including two starts, in his lone season with Penn State basketball. He averaged 2.6 points and 2.2 rebounds per contest for the Nittany Lions.

Penn State basketball roster outlook

When Mike Rhoades arrived in State College two years ago, he had to completely rebuild the Penn State basketball roster using the transfer portal. Rhoades will have to do so again this offseason after this spring’s wave of portal exits.

On top of to the five players who have hit the portal, five more Nittany Lions have exhausted their eligibility. Additionally, junior forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser has declared for June’s NBA Draft but has pledged to return to Happy Valley if he goes unselected.

Only three players from Penn State’s 2024-25 squad – Freddie Dilione, Eli Rice, and Dominick Stewart – currently remain on the roster for next year.

On Tuesday, Penn State basketball earned a commitment from Cincinnati guard Josh Reed. The program’s first transfer portal addition, Reed currently joins three 2025 signees who will be added to the Nittany Lions’ roster this summer.

2024-25 roster (3 remain):

• Ace Baldwin, G – Exhausted eligibility.
• Jahvin Carter, G – Entered the transfer portal on March 20. Committed to Middle Tennessee on April 4.
• Freddie Dilione, G – Remains on roster; two years of eligibility remaining.
• D’Marco Dunn, G – Exhausted eligibility.
• Miles Goodman, F – Entered the transfer portal on March 24. Committed to Oregon on April 11.
• Zach Hicks, F – Exhausted eligibility.
• Puff Johnson, F – Exhausted eligibility.
• Nick Kern, G – Exhausted eligibility.
• Yanic Konan Niederhauser, F – Declared for NBA Draft on April 2. Can return to Penn State if not selected.
• Kachi Nzeh, F – Entered the transfer portal on April 18.
• Eli Rice, G – Remains on roster; three years of eligibility remaining.
• Joe Sedora, F – Entered the transfer portal on March 28. Committed to West Chester on April 12.
• Dominick Stewart, G – Remains on roster; three years of eligibility remaining.
• Hudson Ward, F – Entered the transfer portal on March 24.

Incoming transfers (1):

• Josh Reed, G – Transferred from Cincinnati on April 15.

Class of 2025 additions (3):

• Kayden Mingo, G
• Mason Blackwood, F
• Justin Houser, F

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