Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1543434
6 4 M A R C H 2 0 2 6 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M M uch of the intrigue surround- ing the Penn State men's bas- ketball team's pursuit of Dylan Mingo had evaporated by his Feb. 17 decision date. Mingo, the nation's No. 6 prospect in the class of 2026 and the brother of current Nittany Lion fresh- man point guard Kayden Mingo, joined ESPN's "First Take," unzipped his track jacket and revealed North Carolina as his choice. Crediting the Tar Heels for having a family-oriented program, with a coach- ing staff and roster that made him feel welcome, Mingo said his decision was final. It ended what had been a years- long effort by coach Mike Rhoades and the Nittany Lions to woo the elite pros- pect into joining his brother. While it was of little consolation, Mingo did note that he had given the Lions serious consideration before join- ing the Tar Heels. "Penn State was second. It's super hard to not play with your brother, to decline that option," he said. "I just feel like North Carolina was what's best for me right now." A different outcome would have in- stantly and massively elevated the re- cruiting profile of the Nittany Lions, but they couldn't get across the finish line. While the staff had invested con- siderable time and effort in Mingo's recruitment, they ultimately couldn't overcome the allure of the storied Tar Heels program. Because the NCAA doesn't allow coaches to publicly discuss unsigned players, Rhoades couldn't talk about Mingo's decision, but he did emphasize the importance of bringing high-caliber talent into the program. "I think we have a really good staff that has great relationships with people. MEN'S BASKETBALL FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE With a difficult season drawing to a close, PSU eyes its opportunities in the portal and beyond NAT E BAU E R | N AT E . B A U E R @ O N 3 . C O M Freshman guard Kayden Mingo was averaging 14.0 points per game, ranking second on the team in scoring prior to its last three regular-season contests. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS