BREAKING: Penn State basketball lands first transfer portal commitment

Mike Rhoades recently delivered a powerful message to Nittany Lion basketball fans that he will do whatever it takes to grow this program. Part of the growth, he suggested, will have to come from the transfer portal ahead of the 2024-25 season. And on Saturday, Rhoades and the Nittany Lions landed their first commitment out of the portal for the spring window, from former Xavier center Kachi Nzeh.

Penn State basketball lands transfer portal forward with PA roots

Kachi Nzeh just finished his freshman season with the Xavier Musketeers. However, after the season concluded, Nzeh decided to enter the transfer portal and look for a new home. Nzeh is from Upper Darby, PA, and he played his high school basketball at the George School.

When looking at his season totals, you might not be overly impressed. He averaged 2.5 points per game and 2.5 rebounds per game. But when you look at each game Nzeh played at Xavier, he showed flashes of potential stardom. He dropped a career-high 13 points and 6 rebounds against Georgetown at the beginning of March. Standing at 6-8 230 pounds, Kachi Nzeh is a forward/center that has all kinds of potential.

Mike Rhoades and Penn State basketball saw enough to contact Nzeh and host him on a visit this weekend, first reported by Blue-White Illustrated on Thursday and later confirmed by Lions247. The visit was evidently successful, as Kachi Nzeh became the Nittany Lions’ first transfer portal commitment on Saturday afternoon, announcing via social media.

Lets do it! @PennStateMBB 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/t8FjERtXjn

— Kachi Nzeh (@KachiNzeh) March 30, 2024

Nittany Lions await a decision from Ace Baldwin

Penn State basketball received good news when Puff Johnson announced that he would return to Happy Valley for the 2024 season earlier this week. But the big question mark looming around the upcoming season is Ace Baldwin. He has the opportunity to return to Penn State, enter the transfer portal, or declare for the NBA Draft. As of Saturday, Baldwin has yet to make a decision public.

Regardless, if Mike Rhoades can have multiple consistent contributors carry over from last season to next, his culture will continue to grow in State College.

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