Penn State basketball loses second-highest-ranked recruit in program history to transfer portal

The transfer portal officially opens on Monday. As it does, Penn State basketball is losing more of its top young talent to the open market.

On Sunday, freshman forward Hudson Ward entered the portal. Ward appeared in eight games as a true freshman, totaling five rebounds, one assist, and one block. The top prospect out of Alberta, Canada, Ward was a four-star recruit and the No. 137 overall player in the 247Sports Composite for 2024.

Then on Monday, Ward was joined in the portal by forward Miles Goodman. Ranked No. 108 nationally and carrying a 247Sports Composite score of 0.952, Goodman was the second-highest-rated recruit in Penn State basketball history behind Tony Carr. Goodman battled an injury during the early portion of his freshman season, and only appeared in 13 games. He averaged 1.2 points and 1.4 rebounds per contest.

Ward and Goodman are the second and third members from the 2024 recruiting class that Penn State basketball has lost to the portal. Last Wednesday, freshman guard Jahvin Carter also announced his plans to transfer. Only guard Dominick Stewart and forward Joe Sedora remain from the Nittany Lions’ 2024 signing class.

“There are conversations you have with your coach that even if you agree or don’t agree on, you have a conversation,” Mike Rhoades said last week regarding Carter’s decision. “Kids got to do what they feel is best for them and their future and their opportunity, because they only get to do this one time, and there’s only one window that they can do this.”

Penn State basketball is coming off a 16-15 season in year two under Rhoades. The Nittany Lions have the No. 23 signing class incoming for 2025.

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