Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1547107
4 0 N O V E M 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 someone. We have good size that can re- ally score around the basket, versatile big guys, and then I think we have wings and guards that can shoot the ball." Frontcourt That combination of interior scoring and outside shooting gives Rhoades the one-two punch he sees as integral to the Nittany Lions' success. Jurić anchored the frontcourt as a freshman last season, but Penn State's struggles from beyond the arc allowed defenders to crowd the paint. That made the Nittany Lions easier to defend. They believe they are poised to change that this season. "If you have guys that could really shoot it like Brant and Roberts and Thomas and Josh, then you can't really help off those guys, especially with our big guys," Rhoades said. "Ivan and Roko and Tim, they're good passers, too, so they reward those guys if they cheat off of them. It gives the bigs more space inside, more one-on-one opportunities. It's got to be an advantage for us." That effort starts with the 7-foot Jurić, who returns for his sophomore season, and includes the versatile Prkačin. Listed at 6-8, the Croatian standout brings playmaking ability and, perhaps more important, leadership and a feel for the game at both ends of the floor. Since joining the program in late Au- gust, Prkačin has already begun to make an impact in preseason practices. "As good of a player he is, he's an un- real dude. He has been so much fun to be around," Rhoades said. "From Day 1, he has a great presence, positive attitude, and he does not have a sense of entitle- ment at all. He just wants to get better. "He's very coachable and he's a really good teammate. But he can make plays. He can make plays with great length. He really can move. And he can bring the ball up the court at times. Great connector. I want him to be even more aggressive making plays, but he's a great connector." With the season fast approaching, Rhoades is determined to field a team that competes in ways last year's group could not. Penn State is eager to see its com- bination of physicality, experience and improved shooting pay off. ■ 2026-27 Roster No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Elig. Home High School/Last College or Team 1 Jay Rodgers G 6-3 185 Sr. Pickerington, Ohio Pickerington Central/C. Connecticut St. 3 Ivan Jurić F 7-0 250 So. Zagreb, Croatia Sunrise Christian Academy (Kan.) 5 Dasonte Bowen G 6-2 190 Gr. Boston Brewster Academy/Iowa/St. Bonaventure 7 Andy Gemao G 6-1 — Fr. Iligan City, Philippines Royal Crown School (Ontario) 8 Roko Prkačin F 6-8 — — Zagreb, Croatia Nanterre 92 9 Grant Spacciapolli G 6-3 — Fr. Pittsburgh Pine-Richland 10 Josh Reed F 6-8 220 Gr. Atlanta Pace Academy/Cincinnati 11 François Wibaut F 6-7 — — Berck, France Pau-Lacq-Orthez 12 Reggie Grodin G 6-5 200 R-Fr. Larchmont, N.Y. Newman School (Mass.) 14 Thomas Allard G 6-7 210 Gr. Suwanee, Ga. North Gwinnett/Lincoln Memorial/Alabama-Huntsville 22 Brant Byers G/F 6-8 200 R-Jr. Chambersburg, Pa. Perkiomen School/Miami (Ohio) 33 Tim Oboh F 6-11 230 Jr. London, England Canterbury Academy/Buffalo 45 Roberts Blums G 6-4 190 Jr. Riga, Latvia Rigas Talmãcibas Vidusskola/Davidson 77 Aleksandar Zečević F 6-9 — Fr. Prokuplje, Serbia Gimnazija Prokuplje Josh Reed averaged 11.5 points and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 36.8 percent from three-point range last season. His bid for a fifth season remains unresolved, leaving Penn State uncertain about a key veteran's availability. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS