Penn State basketball lands top 35 big man, in-state recruit to kick off 2025 class

While the buzz around Happy Valley this week has surrounded the recent recruiting run of James Franklin and Penn State football, across Curtain Road, Mike Rhoades and the Penn State basketball program are getting in on the action as well. On Wednesday night, the Nittany Lions kicked off their 2025 recruiting class by earning a commitment from three-star Pennsylvania center Justin Houser.

Houser made the announcement via social media after visiting with Rhoades and the Penn State basketball staff on Wednesday.

Dreams to Reality #committed #WeAre pic.twitter.com/4hYDwcuS2z

— Justin Houser (@JustinHouser24) June 27, 2024

From Camp Hill, Justin Houser played two seasons for Cedar Cliff before transferring to the Phelps School in Chester County following his sophomore season. The 6-11 big man is the No. 33 center in the country and the No. 12 prospect in Pennsylvania for the 2025 recruiting cycle, per On3.

Houser currently has eight offers, including the one extended by Mike Rhoades and the Nittany Lions in June of last year. He picked Penn State over Temple, which he visited on June 20.

Penn State basketball is building on momentum heading into year two under Mike Rhoades

Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

Although Penn State basketball finished with a 16-17 record in 2024, Mike Rhoades is laying the foundation for the future of the Nittany Lions program.

The 2025 roster will be bolstered by the return of veterans Ace Baldwin and Puff Johnson, who both chose to exercise their COVID year of eligibility for another season in Happy Valley.

Rhoades addressed a wave of transfer portal exits this spring with some talent acquisition of his own. The Nittany Lions brought in the No. 48-ranked portal class, according to 247Sports, headlined by former top 50 recruit and ex-Tennessee Volunteer Freddie Dilione.

This summer, Rhoades welcomed one of the most highly-touted classes in Penn State basketball history to campus. Ranked No. 24 in the 247Sports Composite for the 2024 cycle, the newest Nittany Lions feature Miles Goodman, the second-highest recruit to ever sign with the Nittany Lions.

“I know we can get it done at Penn State,” Rhoades said this spring. “I know it’s going to be really hard. I know I have some great support. I know there’s some things that are different right now when people are dealing with men’s basketball, Penn State basketball, than before. And I think I have people that are really looking to help me push the envelope to move this program forward. I feel that, and I’m excited about that. And I’m not going to stop that.”

Starting earlier this month, offseason workouts for Penn State basketball are currently underway.

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