Penn State’s roster makeover puts the spotlight on five newcomers who could shape Mike Rhoades’ season from the jump. The Nittany Lions mix transfer help, international experience and returning pieces up front, but the clearest path to improvement runs through this new group.
At the top of that list is Jay Rodgers, who looks positioned to handle the point guard duties. Coming over from Central Connecticut, Rodgers is expected to be the guy pushing the ball downhill and creating near the rim.
He also arrives with real passing chops after ranking eighth nationally in assists per game. With more perimeter shooting around him and solid play inside, he has a setup that should suit him as he adjusts to Big Ten play.
Brant Byers brings a different kind of value. He has the size and athleticism to operate inside, but his calling card is his shooting range.
In his final season at Miami(Ohio), he knocked down about 40 percent of his threes as a high-volume option. His length could also matter on defense if Penn State goes with a bigger lineup.
More often, though, he projects as the kind of stretch threat the Nittany Lions have been missing.
Roko Prkacin gives Penn State another forward with a polished profile. At 21, he already has experience in elite European leagues and has played multiple times for Croatian youth national teams.
That background shows up in his 56.9 percent field goal clip against that competition. He brings the kind of passing feel and ability to attack the basket that can make him a tough matchup early.
Roberts Blums adds another layer on the perimeter. Alongside Rodgers, he gives Penn State a contrasting look at the guard spots.
Where Rodgers can pressure the lane, Blums offers the kind of shooting that can open the floor from deep. That gives Rhoades flexibility to build lineups that either attack the paint or lean into outside shooting, depending on the matchup.
And then there’s Tim Oboh, the defensive piece that rounds out the group. He arrives from Buffalo with a track record of protecting the rim, leading his team in blocks while averaging 1.5 per game.
Rhoades may start Juric at center early, but Oboh has a path to a bigger role as the season goes on. In a group loaded with offense, he gives Penn State the kind of anchor that can matter on the other end.
In Other News...
Penn States Coaching Search Just Got Even Harder To Ignore
Kalani Sitake was one of the names that made the most sense in Penn States early search after James Franklin was fired, and the reporting around him only made that feel more real. He reportedly was close to taking the job, with a handshake deal in place, before ultimately deciding to stay at BYU after signing a contract extension reportedly worth more than $9 million a year.
For Penn State, that leaves a search that already had plenty of moving parts looking even more complicated in hindsight. Matt Campbell is in his first year leading the Nittany Lions and dealing with the usual pressure that comes with the job, while another candidate, Bob Chesney, is turning heads with success at UCLA, a reminder that the market is shifting while Penn State is still sorting through what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Star Luke Lilledahl Addressed His First Real Setback
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For a wrestler headed into his junior season, a result like that can sting, but it also gives him something to carry back to Happy Valley. Lilledahl is expected to keep competing at 125 pounds for Penn State, and the hope now is that the setback in Las Vegas becomes fuel for the next stretch of his career rather than a pause in it. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State's Frontcourt Gamble Now Hinges On One International Newcomer
Penn States frontcourt picture for the 2026-27 season is already taking shape around Roko Prkacin, the international recruit expected to step into the starting power forward role. The Croatian big man arrives with a resume built entirely overseas, including six seasons abroad and a steady baseline of production that should give the Nittany Lions a different kind of presence inside than they have had in recent years.
Prkacins path also comes with plenty of credibility beyond club basketball. He has made 26 senior appearances for Croatia, and his background includes a notable leadership marker from his days with KK Cibona, where he became the youngest captain in club history at 17 years and 10 months old. For Penn State, the question is less about whether he has been tested and more about how quickly that experience translates once he is asked to anchor a new-look frontcourt. [Read more 🡒]