The Penn State Nittany Lions had a whirlwind end of June from the 2025 NBA and NHL drafts to Walter Camp Preseason All-America Team selectees. Here's the big news from Happy Valley over the past week.
Yanic Konan Niederhauser is selected No. 30 overall by the Los Angeles Clippers
Yanic Konan Niederhauser made Penn State history and became the men's basketball program's first first round pick. It was a shcoking selection in 2025 NBA Draft. The Clippers drafted the center in the last pick of the round, No. 30 overall.
This draft pick will hopefully help the Nittany Lions with recruiting in the future and assist head coach Mike Rhoades in his current rebuilding efforts.
Konan Niederhauser is now one of four NBA Draft picks from this century alongside Jalen Pickett, Seth Lundy, and Tony Carr. He'll join Pickett, Lundy, and Lamar Stevens as the only current NBA players who were former Nittany Lions.
Charlie Cerrato and future Nittany Lion Jackson Smith selected in the 2025 NHL Draft
Penn State had another successful draft night. Future Nittany Lion defenseman Jackson Smith was drafted No. 14 overall in the 2025 NHL Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Meredith Gaudreau, widow of Blue Jackets left winger Johnny Gaudreau, announced the selection and became a moment Smith, Columbus, and Penn State will never forget.
The Nittany Lions did a first round tour and became the second school with Michigan to claim first-rounders in the 2025 NFL, NBA, and NHL drafts.
Penn State men's hockey's Charlie Cerrato was also drafted. In the second round, Cerrato was selected No. 49 overall by the Carolina Hurricanes. This was a surprise to many as Cerrato was not a high-ranked prospect and was expected to go in a later round. However, the Hurricanes are known for unconventional strategies in the drafts, and Cerrato happened to benefit from it.
Women's volleyball head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley receives The Jimmy V Award for Perseverance
The Nittany Lions' women's volleyball head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley was announced as the recipient of The Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. She will be honored with the award at the 2025 ESPYS to recognize her strength and achievements in bringing her team to the program's eighth NCAA championship title while battling breast cancer simultaneously.
Schumacher-Cawley was first diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in October and did not miss one practice or game throughout her chemotherapy treatment. On Feb. 10, she rang the bell to celebrate her personal accomplishment in battling breast cancer and officially being cancer free.
Nicholas Singleton, Zane Durant, and Vega Ioane selected to the 2025 Walter Camp Preseason FBS All-America Teams
Penn State football's Nicholas Singleton, Zane Durant, and Vega Ioane were selected to the 2025 Walter Camp preseason FBS All-America Teams. This is the first time these three Nittany Lions have made the Preseason All-America Teams and with good reason. Singleton, Durant, and Ioane are all essential returning pieces to the Penn State puzzle on its journey back to the College Football Playoffs in 2025-26.
The Nittany Lions' running back and defensive lineman were named to the Walter Camp Preseason All-America First Team Offense and Defense, respectively. The offensive lineman was selected to the Walter Camp Preseason All-America Second Team Offense.
Penn State football will attend Big Ten Football Media Day on Wednesday, July 23
The Big Ten Conference announced the student-athletes who will participate in the the 2025 Big Ten Football Media Days presented by Discover® from July 22 to 24. The Nittany Lions will attend media on Wednesday, July 23 and all three days can be watched live on Big Ten Network.
Head coach James Franklin will be joined by quarterback Drew Allar, offensive lineman Nick Dawkins, and safety Zakee Wheatley.