Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1529598
3 6 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M I n the months leading into Mike Rhoades' hiring as men's basket- ball coach on March 30, 2023, Penn State's approach to name, image and likeness issues was a sore spot for the program. Uncompetitive in the NIL realm at the time, the Nittany Li- ons lacked the support they knew they would need in the radically transformed national college basketball landscape, and there were concerns about how it would impact the team's prospects for success under its new leadership. At his introductory press conference, Rhoades was undaunted. He acknowl- edged that NIL considerations would play a big role in the program's health, but he also emphasized the need for a broad approach in which financial guar- antees were only part of the overall ex- perience. "We're going to balance all that," Rhoades said. "We're going to be very aggressive in our pursuit of all that. We're going to recruit really hard. We're going to continue to build this program and compete at a level we all want to compete at. "To do that, it's a lot of hard work. It's [about] making great decisions and a lot of investment in what you're trying to do. We're going to do that diligently and intelligently. We're going to be clearly aggressive. I'm here because we want to do that. But we're going to do it the right way." More than 19 months later, Rhoades' approach hasn't changed. But, in wel- coming the highest-ranked recruit in program history in four-star point guard Kaden Mingo, plus high three- stars Mason Blackwood and Justin Houser, Penn State has shown that a major evolution is underway. Signs Of Improvement The Nittany Lions' 2025 recruiting class is an indication that the program has begun to establish a firm NIL foot- ing behind the scenes. Asked recently how Penn State's standing had changed in that area from when he first accepted the job, the head coach was resolute. "Night and day," he said. "NIL is su- per supportive. We have found differ- ent ways to improve that tremendously. And I'm always going to hammer that away. Because the better that gets, the better the opportunity and support for our guys. "That's No. 1 on my list. Well, 1A on my list is recruiting guys that fit Penn State basketball, and 1B is being able to provide for them and support them at a high level so that they want to be here." To get it, Rhoades turned to athlet- ics director Patrick Kraft to help fash- ion a strategy geared toward building all areas of the program. Hailing Kraft for his willingness to talk about the is- sues in play, both near- and long-term, Rhoades said a working dynamic has emerged in which Penn State pursues consistent improvement. Those efforts have included NIL sup- port, but Rhoades, who has the Nittany Lions off to a 4-0 start this year with a convincing 86-64 win over Virginia Tech on Nov. 15, is not fixated on the superficial markers of success. He said MEN'S BASKETBALL A Turn For A Turn For The Better The Better An improved NIL game is just one facet of Mike Rhoades' efforts to boost the Penn State hoops program NAT E BAU E R | N AT E . B A U E R @ O N 3 . C O M After guiding the Nittany Lions to a 16-17 overall record in his first season with the program (9-11 Big Ten), Rhoades had them at 4-0 following an 86-64 rout of Virginia Tech on Nov. 15. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS