BREAKING: Penn State basketball beats out Big Ten rival for elite 2025 forward

Mike Rhoades landed one of the top prospects in Penn State basketball history on Wednesday afternoon, earning a commitment from 2025 New Hampton School (New Hampshire) small forward Mason Blackwood.

Blackwood pledged his commitment to Rhoades and the Nittany Lions live on the 247Sports YouTube Channel. The four-star forward chose Penn State over Big Ten rival Rutgers. Blackwood also had offers from programs such as Virginia, Marquette, Northwestern, and Wake Forest.

Today is the day that 4⭐️ SF Mason Blackwood announces his college commitment!

The No. 102 prospect in the Top247 will pick from Penn State or Rutgers! 🏀

WATCH: https://t.co/C0Fbb4esQN pic.twitter.com/Ms0lLMq5h5

— 247Sports (@247Sports) September 18, 2024

“Throw Mason Blackwood on the floor in any role, he’s going to find a way to impact winning,” Made Hoops scout Max Feldman said in June. “[He’s] versatile, high energy wing with a low maintenance, highly valuable style of play.”

Rated as the No. 4 player in New Hampshire, Blackwood is ranked as the No. 24 small forward in the 2025 recruiting cycle, according to 247Sports. The Rochester, New York, native sits just outside of the top 100 prospects nationally, coming in at No. 102.

Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

With a 247Sports Composite rating of 0.9203, Mason Blackwood becomes the 10th-highest ranked recruit in Penn State basketball history. Blackwood’s commitment comes less than a year after Mike Rhoades landed Nittany Lions freshman forward Miles Goodman, the second-highest rated prospect in the history of the program.

Blackwood is the second commitment for Mike Rhoades and the Nittany Lions in the 2025 recruiting cycle, joining three-star in-state big man Justin Houser. Penn State basketball has the No. 52 class in the 2025 cycle per 247Sports.

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