REPORT: Penn State linked as finalist for Bo Bassett following Iowa decommitment

The 2026 recruiting cycle took a surprising turn on Sunday evening when top prospect Bo Bassett announced his decommitment from Iowa. With the Bishop McCort superstar back on the open market, it appears that Penn State wrestling will have the opportunity to land the nation’s top recruit for a third year in a row after all.

On Monday’s episode of FloWrestling Radio Live, analyst Christian Pyles reported that the Nittany Lions are among the three finalists in Bassett’s renewed recruitment. Oklahoma State and Nebraska also made the list.

Penn State and Oklahoma State joined Iowa and Virginia Tech as Bassett’s four finalists before his initial commitment in February. While it appears the fallout in Iowa City was largely due to friction between the Bassett family and the Hawkeyes program, Pyles revealed that the Nittany Lions, Cowboys, and Cornhuskers have all been pushing to flip the nation’s top recruit.

“How much conversation has been happening in the background, I don’t know how much. Definitely some,” Pyles said. “There had been communication between the Bassett camp and these other schools prior to the decommitment.”

Bo Bassett has a new top 3. #FRL

Presented by Nike Wrestling @AthletePS pic.twitter.com/M0NUiLAhXp

— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) June 23, 2025

With commitments from Jayden James and Sam Herring, ranked No. 3 and No. 27 in the country, respectively, Penn State wrestling currently has the No. 4 class in the 2026 cycle. Even with an infusion of young talent from top-ranked recruiting classes in 2024 and 2025, the Nittany Lions could likely be considered the frontrunner for the Johnstown-area prospect.

“I think when you look at Penn State, I think there’s fit with the NCAA lineup, but there’s also going to be – 2028 is going to be [top 2025 recruit] Marcus Blaze and Bo Bassett [as the stars in NCAA wrestling], right? That feels like a certainty,” said Pyles. “So, does that factor in? Maybe so.

“But, Penn State is also a program that has handled that well. But do you want that? That’s not for everyone, also – to be training alongside the guy that’s maybe going to keep you from the team? That’s a challenge.”

How will Bassett’s decision impact the recruitment of 2027 Penn State target Melvin Miller?

Top 2027 recruit and Penn State wrestling target Melvin Miller. © Harrison Jones / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Bassett’s decommitment from Iowa will ultimately have a ripple effect that extends beyond the 2026 recruiting cycle. The decision has already impacted the recruitment of top 2027 prospect Melvin Miller.

A de facto brother to Bassett and teammate at Bishop McCort, Miller has trimmed the Hawkeyes from his list of prospective schools, which was released last week.

The #1 Recruit in the Class of 2027 on @MatScouts1 Big Board, Melvin Miller, has provided an update & has officially removed Iowa from his top schools list. pic.twitter.com/61RuLU2BOz

— Justin Basch (@JustinJBasch) June 23, 2025

It’s widely viewed that whichever program lands Bassett in 2026 will also have the inside track to land Miller in 2027, as well as Bassett’s younger brother, Keegan, in 2028.

“I would not say if Bo goes to a place, lock in Melvin, but it’s about as close as can be,” Pyles said. “I mean, that was the plan. The plan was for Bo to go where he goes, and Melvin and then Keegan to ultimately follow. That was the plan. That was what they wanted to see happen. And I think that’s going to happen, just not for Iowa.”

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