Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1535618
J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 5 3 7 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M by his performance against the league's top 75 prospects participating in the Draft Combine. In his team's first scrimmage, he scored 7 points on 3-of-4 shooting, finishing with 4 rebounds, an assist and a pair of blocks in a 104-80 win. He followed that performance by totaling 12 points and a team-high 7 rebounds in 20 minutes the next day, complementing the effort with 2 blocks and an assist. He shot 50 percent from the floor and knocked down 4 of 6 free throws in his team's 104-87 loss. Among all center prospects to par- ticipate in the combine, he had the top athleticism numbers in standing verti- cal leap (33.5 inches), max vertical leap (37.0 inches), shuttle run (2.84 seconds) and three-quarter sprint (3.20). His lane agility measured second out of the nine center prospects (11.45 seconds). Following the combine, ESPN's NBA insiders highlighted Niederhauser's per- formance as one of the biggest storylines to emerge from the event but also noted that there's ample room for improvement. "After turning scouts' heads at the G League Elite Camp, Yanic Konan Nieder- hauser somewhat came back to earth at the combine, where he was productive Thursday but failed to stand out the same way in higher-level scrimmages," ESPN wrote. "His athletic tools, huge frame (7- 0, 250 pounds), defensive potential, and ability to catch and finish made him inter- esting to teams in the Elite Camp setting. He wasn't as impactful in the run of play in the combine 5-on-5, which featured higher-level opposition and more size on the floor. Niederhauser's physicality can be sporadic, and he'll need to wield his size to his advantage more consistently to establish himself in the NBA. "Niederhauser did not enter the trans- fer portal and has the option to return to Penn State, where he could certainly im- prove his draft stock with increased pro- ductivity next season. He showed enough this week to raise his profile considerably, moving into the top 40 in our rankings. Now we'll see whether that results in a comfortable draft spot." A mock draft from Givony and fellow insider Jeremy Woo had Niederhauser be- ing selected No. 41 overall by the Golden State Warriors, the 11th pick in the second round. Konan Niederhauser has until May 28 to reach a decision on staying in the draft or returning to Penn State. Juric, Grodin Join 2025 Class Penn State continued its offseason roster reconstruction project with two new additions to its 2025 class. On May 6, the Lions picked up a commitment from 7-foot Croatian center Ivan Juric, and he was joined the following day by 6-5 guard Reggie Grodin. Juric is an On3 three-star prospect originally from Zagreb who attended Sunrise Christian Academy in Wich- ita, Kan., last year. After averaging 14.0 points, 9.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game as a senior, he's ranked No. 20 in the 2025 class at the center position and No. 3 among all Kansas prospects. "Ivan is a versatile big man who we re- ally wanted in our program," head coach Mike Rhoades said. "He has impressive size, strength and skill, and a desire to get better. He has played against great com- petition at home and here in the States, and we are really excited to get him here on campus." Grodin, a Larchmont, N.Y., native who attended Newman School in Boston, also pledged to begin his college career with the Nittany Lions. He does not have a rat- ing from any of the recruiting services. "Reggie brings winning basketball with him and a versatility we need on both ends of the floor," Rhoades said. "His abil- ity to make shots, make winning plays and defend at a high level are what we want in our program." Grodin shot 68 percent from two-point range and 41 percent from beyond the three-point arc last season for a Newman team that won the New England Prepara- tory School Athletic Council's Class AAA championship. He averaged 12.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.5 steals per game. Grodin earned offers from Fordham and George Washington and committed to the Rams last November. However, af- ter Fordham dismissed coach Keith Urgo, Grodin reopened his recruitment. Other programs that had reportedly showed in- terest included George Washington, Col- gate, Elon, Cornell and Stony Brook. Juric and Grodin join four-star guard Kayden Mingo and three-star forwards Mason Blackwood and Justin Houser in Penn State's 2025 class. The five-player group is listed 35th nationally and sixth among Big Ten teams in the On3 Industry Team Rankings. Lions To Face Providence The first domino has fallen on the 2025-26 schedule. As announced by the Croatian center Ivan Juric joined Penn State's 2025 class in May. He averaged 14.0 points and 9.8 rebounds per game as a senior at Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita, Kan. PHOTO COURTESY PENN STATE ATHLETICS