Penn State’s roster makeover is starting to come into focus, and the biggest piece of the puzzle arrived Friday. Forward Roko Prkačin was cleared to play by the NCAA, putting him on track to be available for Monday night’s season opener against Canisius after sitting out the team’s two exhibition games.
That matters because Mike Rhoades rebuilt this group almost from the ground up. He brought in 11 new players over the offseason, so the Nittany Lions are set to roll out a starting five that looks nothing like last year’s version. With the opener just days away, the shape of that lineup is becoming clearer.
At point guard, Dasonte Bowen appears to be the safest bet. He missed Penn State’s first exhibition against St.
Bonaventure, then returned against Drexel last Monday and started at the position. Bowen comes in with plenty of mileage, having spent two seasons at St.
Bonaventure and two at Iowa. Last season with the Bonnies, he averaged 10.9 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.
He also has a fifth year of eligibility after an injury shortened his 2024-25 season.
Bowen was a late addition through the transfer portal, but that had more to do with awareness than demand. “That could be why it took a little bit longer than most,” Bowen said.
“But what stood out to me about here was just the honesty that coach came with instantly. He instantly told me nothing would be promised, but there'd be a great opportunity, and I'd have to come here and work and go from there.
That stood out to me just because I'm big on those types of values.”
On the wing, Brant Byers looks like the kind of shooter Penn State has been missing. The Miami (Ohio) transfer grew up around the program as a Penn State fan and has the kind of perimeter touch that should fit cleanly at shooting guard. He hit 39.2% of his 3-pointers last season and also brings size at 6-foot-8.
Byers said the connection to the school ran deep. “A big part of why I came here is obviously I'm from Pennsylvania, so Penn State basketball has always been kind of personal to me growing up,” Byers said. “I've always been a fan, and then coach Rhoades and the staff also just made a pitch that I couldn't turn down.”
Josh Reed should slot in at small forward, where Penn State can keep him closer to his natural position after injuries and other roster moves pushed him more toward power forward last season. Reed is also dealing with a legal situation tied to the Ohio eligibility lawsuit, but for now he is eligible and ready to go after the Ohio Supreme Court reversed a decision that had made him and other plaintiffs ineligible. He averaged 11.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season.
Reed kept his focus narrow when asked about the uncertainty around him. “I’m just focusing on basketball, keeping that the main thing and controlling what I can control,” Reed said. “There's a lot of things right now that are out of my hands.”
Prkačin gives Penn State a true power forward, and that alone makes him a major addition. He’s classified as a fifth-year player with one season of eligibility left, and he averaged 10 points and 4.3 rebounds per game with Nanterre 92 last season in France’s top professional league.
Prkačin said the fit was obvious once he spoke with Rhoades. “I spoke to coach Rhodes, and I really love his idea and program about everything, and really enjoy the culture he's building here,” Prkačin said.
“I saw myself in that situation.”
At center, Ivan Jurić returns for Year 2 after showing flashes as a freshman. He averaged 10.2 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season and now gets another run through a Big Ten schedule with more experience under his belt.
Jurić said the details will matter most. “It's the little things that win games,” Jurić said.
“Every team can beat every other team. I would say, like getting the 50-50 balls, just diving on the floor.
It's those little things that literally separate the difference.”
Penn State’s bench won’t be overflowing, but Rhoades still has a few pieces to work with. Guard Roberts Blums brings scoring punch off the bench.
Thomas Allard, a Division II transfer, has impressed this offseason and could challenge for a starting role, though it’s difficult to see where that opening comes from if the roster stays intact. François Wibaut should see meaningful minutes for his defense and could be a late-game option in that area.
Tim Oboh is set to back up Jurić at center, while Jay Rodgers will relieve Bowen at point guard.
That gives Penn State a projected 10-man rotation as it tries to move past last season’s 12-20 record.
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The crowd in attendance also included potential flip targets and other prospects taking in the atmosphere and the way Penn State performed on the field. For a program trying to keep momentum rolling, those kinds of game-day visits matter, especially when the team can point to a convincing league win and the kind of environment recruits remember. The bigger question now is how much that visit weekend can move the needle with the players who were watching closest. [Read more 🡒]