One of Penn State men's basketball head coach Mike Rhoades' freshman from the 2025-26 season who he acquired overseas is on his way out via the Transfer Portal.
Tibor Mirtic, a former Nittany Lion forward, was limited in his first season due to injury and is looking to take his talents elsewhere following his recovery.
The 6-foot-9, 255-pound power forward from Slovenia averaged 3.7 points per game over 15 contests. He had a 53.2 shooting percentage from the field, 33.3 percentage from beyond the arc, and a 30.8 percentage from the free throw line. Mirtic also tallied 28 rebounds on defense, 22 rebounds on offense, 10 assists, eight steals, and one block in his first collegiate season.
BREAKING: Penn State forward Tibor Mirtič is entering the transfer portal, per @KayserHoops.
— Will Horstman (@WillHorstman_) April 20, 2026
Mirtič only appeared in 15 games in 2025-26 due to injury. He averaged 3.7 points and 3.3 rebounds per game with 53.2% shooting from the field.
(📸: Samantha Oropeza) pic.twitter.com/3YvDJbYWju
Power forward Tibor Mirtic enters Transfer Portal following one season with Penn State men's basketball
Mirtic marks the eighth Penn Stater to enter the Transfer Portal following the 2025-26 season. Guards Freddie Dilione V, Kayden Mingo, Dominick Stewart, and Melih Tunca all departed as well as forwards Mason Blackwood and Eli Rice. Center Justin Houser is also leaving Happy Valley.
As a result of this mass departure from the program, Rhoades already brought in new faces. The most recent addition is shooting guard Roberts Blums from Davidson. The Nittany Lions also added forward Brant Byers from Miami (Ohio) and point guard Jay Rodgers from Central Connecticut State University.
Signing as incoming freshmen for the 2026-27 season, forwards Roko Prkacin and Francois Wibaut from international teams are headed to Happy Valley in addition.
Penn State retained forward Ivan Juric, who announced his intentions on returning at the start of the NCAA offseason. Rhoades is building his updated roster for the upcoming season around the 7-foot forward from Croatia, prioritizing older players rather than young talent like he did this past season with recruits.
“That’s it. You’ve got to be old. You’ve got to be old because everybody else is,” Rhoades said, according to Nate Bauer of Blue White Illustrated. “The best teams in our league and the best teams in the country are old and experienced. We’ve got to address some of that.”
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