Kayden Mingo Is Already Leading the Way at Penn State - And He’s Just Getting Started
Kayden Mingo didn’t just learn how to shoot a basketball in his backyard - he learned how to win. Coached by his father during those early driveway sessions, Mingo was taught that no matter the sport, the goal was the same: win first, everything else second.
Now, as a freshman point guard at Penn State, that mindset is front and center. Mingo’s already delivered a signature moment - a game-winning layup in a 77-75 victory over Minnesota - and while the Nittany Lions are still finding their footing this season, Mingo’s play is giving fans a glimpse of what the future could look like in Happy Valley.
“He can score the ball and make plays,” head coach Mike Rhoades said. “But winning is most important to him. I think he's had that well before he got to Penn State.”
That much is clear. Mingo poured in 12 points in the second half of that Minnesota game, bouncing back after a quiet start.
It’s the kind of bounce-back ability that speaks to his maturity - something the coaching staff has praised repeatedly. He’s not just playing college basketball; he’s already taking ownership of the team.
Rhoades even called him the day after the Minnesota win, asking if he’d ever hit a shot like that before. Mingo’s response?
“Not like that.” You could hear the smile through the phone.
But this moment wasn’t built overnight. Before the bright lights of the Big Ten, Mingo was grinding through backyard drills - like making 10 straight left-handed layups - just to earn a shot at playing AAU basketball. That work ethic paid off in a big way.
Once he joined the PSA Cardinals, one of the premier grassroots programs in New York City, Mingo’s game took flight. Competing on the Nike EYBL circuit, he averaged 18.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game during the 2024 season. He didn’t just fill up the stat sheet - he locked down opponents, earning Nike EYBL Defensive MVP honors and helping lead the Cardinals to a 19-6 record.
That two-way edge has always been part of Mingo’s game. It’s what made him stand out at Long Island Lutheran High School, a national powerhouse that helped mold him into one of the top recruits in the country. By the end of his high school career, he was a 247Sports composite four-star prospect, ranked No. 37 nationally, No. 5 among combo guards, and the No. 2 player in New York.
He didn’t just rack up numbers - he racked up wins. Mingo led LuHi to a 2023 NYS Class AA Federation championship, and in his senior year, helped the team reach the Throne High School National Championship, the EYBL Scholastic League title game, and the Chipotle Nationals quarterfinals. He was named New York Gatorade Player of the Year in 2025 after averaging 13.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.9 steals in 27 games.
When Rhoades first saw him play as a sophomore, he didn’t just see talent - he saw a foundation piece.
“I was like, ‘Hey, this guy could not just be a heck of a player for us, but he could be a cornerstone of us building this program and how we do things,’” Rhoades said.
That’s exactly what’s happening. Mingo arrived in State College last June, and while he admitted it took a week or two to adjust to the pace and intensity of college practices, it didn’t take long for his competitive fire to shine through.
“It was different,” Mingo said of his first practice. “It was real high intensity… But it was great, finally getting on the court with these guys and being able to play with brothers.”
By the time Big Ten media days rolled around in October, Rhoades had handed him the “keys to the program.” That’s not typical language for a true freshman, but Mingo isn’t your typical first-year player.
He wasted no time proving it. In the season opener against Fairfield, with the game hanging in the balance, Mingo grabbed a defensive rebound, sprinted the length of the floor, and converted an and-1 layup that sparked a game-clinching run. That’s the kind of play that sets the tone - not just for a game, but for a season.
Penn State’s record in Big Ten play sits at 1-10, but Mingo’s not backing down. He’s gone toe-to-toe with some of the conference’s best, including an 11-point, 8-assist performance in a narrow loss to then-No.
9 Michigan State. After the game, Tom Izzo didn’t mince words: “I’m a Mingo fan.”
Through 19 appearances, Mingo is averaging 14.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He’s showing he can score, facilitate, and defend - all while playing with a level of poise that’s rare for someone his age.
But ask Mingo what defines him, and he won’t rattle off stats or accolades.
“I’m a winner before anything,” he said. “I can get downhill as a guard, I can shoot the three pretty well. I get my teammates involved very well, and I have a knack for locking up on defense.”
That’s the formula he’s been following since those backyard workouts - and it’s one that’s already paying dividends at the college level. Penn State may be in the early stages of a rebuild, but with Kayden Mingo running the show, the foundation is in good hands.