Penn State Sports Magazine
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4 4 D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M mer's worth of workouts, preseason practices and now the first game action of the year, Mingo's teammates have taken stock of their new leader. On a roster listing eight players with fresh- man eligibility, his demeanor has created something of an aura. Forward Josh Reed, Penn State's lone senior following an offseason transfer from Cincinnati, has seen it firsthand. In a career that just topped 100 games at the Division I level, Reed said Mingo has separated himself with a combination of talent and a maturity that is rare for players new to college basketball. "He's a really good player," Reed said. "I think for the most part, he stays even- keeled. Never gets too high, never gets too low. And I feel like that's played a big part in the past couple games for us and the success we've had so far — just being able to look to him as a leader at such a young age. He just makes every- one around him better, and we all look up to him in a way. It's pretty cool to see a freshman being able to have that kind of leadership and maturity at his age. It's not something you see that often." Learning Curve Refusing to get carried away at this early stage, Rhoades anticipates mo- ments that are more in line with what he's seen from freshmen throughout his career. Once the Nittany Lions get into Big Ten play, Mingo will work through the hurdles that face all young point guards. In a league that has produced excellence at the position — including many play- ers who have gone on to have great pro- fessional careers — Rhoades insists the maturation process will come through incremental improvements. The learn- ing curve that all true freshmen face will very much apply here, too. Even so, Rhoades said Mingo is "very serious about wanting to be good," and the re- sult is an unmistakable sense of purpose accompanying everything he does. "He's a fun kid to be around," Rhoades said. "He's smiling. He's very positive. But when he walks in the weight room or when he walks in the gym, there's a serious tone to him. "It doesn't mean you can't have fun with him, or that he's not loose when he's playing. He's very determined and very serious about doing things the right way and playing well. That, I think, is maybe a little different than other freshmen." To what extent those traits will el- evate the Nittany Lions this season re- mains to be seen. But having already displayed his maturity, character and talent, Mingo has inspired high hopes. Rhodes said Mingo has the potential to "have an impact not just in the pro- gram and on the team this year, but in the development of the program moving forward. "I know there are guys that want to play with Kayden — his teammates, and guys out there that we're recruiting. They want to play with him because he's a very talented point guard and a great kid," the coach said. "Who doesn't want to be around him? "He's a big part of what we're do- ing moving forward. His character, and then the way he plays and the way he prepares and the way he works [are im- pressive]. We want everybody to follow that lead." ■ Dominick Stewart's Offseason Dedication Is Paying Off Penn State coach Mike Rhoades likes to point out that experience is the greatest teacher. That's especially true for freshmen. Everything is different for newcomers — the environment, practice habits, pace, and level of competition — all demanding adjustment. In Dominick Stewart, that idea carries extra weight. After seeing limited action as a true freshman last season, the 6-foot-5 guard has turned those experiences into a more prominent role in Year 2. "I think Dom, especially since his freshman year has been over, has just really bought into how we want to do things," Rhoades said. "That's his approach, and he's continuing to improve and get better." That mindset was tested this summer when Stewart dealt with a leg injury. Though it was relatively minor, Rhoades revealed he needed "a little procedure" to work through it. While teammates went home for a few weeks after sum- mer workouts, the rising sophomore from Ocean Springs, Miss., stayed on campus to speed up his recovery. "It said a lot about him," Rhoades said. "He stayed to rehab. His approach to work on himself and get better is showing up in his play." Stewart agrees. He used the setback to focus on his shooting and defense, areas he knew needed improvement. "It was an unfortunate situation, but I was just trying to make the most of it," he said. "I just stayed here by myself. I rehabbed, got my leg back strong, got back right. When it was time to come back, I was able to go." Stewart's work paid off in Penn State's first two games, during which he averaged 12.5 points — third-best on the team — and shot 81.8 percent from three-point range. Stewart's season-high as a freshman was a 13-point effort in a loss at USC last Febru- ary. He wasted no time surpassing that mark this year. At New Haven on Nov. 8, he hit 6 of 8 shots from deep, scoring a career-high 18 points in 21 minutes. With Penn State's offense benefiting from improved perimeter shooting and unselfish point guard play, Stewart's role is only expected to grow. "He's playing with guys who can get him shots, and Dom is elite at catching and shoot- ing behind the three-point line," Rhoades said. "We've got to get him opportunities. He's got to continue to move, to run the floor, to get those shots, find windows and play off his teammates." That progress extends beyond basketball. "He's just improving in all facets of his life," Rhoades said. "That's why you go to col- lege. That's why you need to be open to coaching and mentorship. I'm really proud of him." — Nate Bauer DOMINICK STEWART