Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546586
4 6 O C T O B E R 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 O n Aug. 23, the Penn State men's basketball program welcomed two additions 140 days in the making. François Wibaut and Roko Prkačin, a pair of international players who com- mitted to the Nittany Lions in April, ar- rived on campus. Their presence rounded out Penn State's roster one day ahead of the start of the fall semester. They also repre- sented another step in the radical trans- formation of the Nittany Lions' team identity ahead of Mike Rhoades' fourth season as head coach. A season ago, Penn State trotted out the least-experienced roster of any power conference team in the country, with eight of its 13 players holding true freshman eligibility and only one se- nior on the squad. The Nittany Lions struggled to a 12-20 overall record, a finish that led Rhoades to conclude that the program needed to have a different objective in its offseason rebuild. Following through on that plan, the Nittany Lions turned to older, more experienced players, acquiring them through multiple avenues. Early in the roster rebuild, they earned commitments from Prkačin and Wibaut, professionals with years of in- ternational experience under their belts. Prkačin, 23, spent last season with Nanterre 92 in the Pro A league, which is the top division of French professional basketball. A native of Zagreb, Croatia, he averaged 10 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-8 forward has also been a member of the Croatian Se- nior National Team since 2021 and has averaged 7.6 and 4.0 rebounds in his 26 appearances with the club. Wibaut, 21, competed for Pau-Lacq- Orthez in the French Elite 2 league. A native of Berck, France, the 6-7 Wibaut MEN'S BASKETBALL International Players Complete Penn State's Roster Overhaul NAT E BAU E R | N AT E . B A U E R @ O N 3 . C O M After coach Mike Rhoades went 12-20 last season with a roster that featured eight true freshmen, he and his staff prioritized experience when they were looking to rebuild in the months that followed. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS