Penn State men's basketball is down seven players due to the Transfer Portal, eight when including graduating senior forward Josh Reed. Head coach Mike Rhoades already added new Nittany Lions to his 2026-27 roster, looking overseas and his recruiting class.
Penn State basketball starts filling out roster spots in midst of portal action
Now, Rhoades is looking at the Transfer Portal.
Guards Jay Rodgers and Dallis Dillard completed their senior and redshirt senior seasons at their respective programs in 2025-26. Both scheduled visits to Happy Valley to check out Rhoades' program and hopefully for Penn State, find their new home for their final collegiate seasons.
NEW: CCSU G Jay Rodgers (@Jayrodgers33) will visit Penn State this weekend, he tells TPR! pic.twitter.com/32d86xULOM
— The Portal Report (@ThePortalReport) April 10, 2026
Guards Jay Rodgers and Dallis Dillard schedule visits with Penn State men's basketball
As a senior at Central Connecticut State, Rodgers averaged 11 points per game, 6.9 assists per game, and 2.2 rebounds per game over 30 contests. He shot 42.6 percent from the field, 36.2 percent behind the arc, and 81.7 percent from the free throw line. He made the All-NEC Second Team following his 2025-26 performance.
Rodgers previously played at the University of New Orleans and Cochise College (NJCAA Division I) before transferring to CCSU.
Dillard comes from the Division II, Indiana University of Pennsylvania squad. He averaged 20.6 points per game in 2025-26 as well as 4.7 assists per game and 5.8 rebounds per game. He had 80 steals and 11 blocks over 32 contests, all of which he started in. Dillard shot 46.8 percent from the field, 37.8 percent behind the arc, and 73 percent from the free throw line.
He spent his entire collegiate career with the Crimson Hawks up until this point. After his 2025-26 campaign, he was named the D2CCA Atlantic Region Player of the Year and made it onto the D2CCA Atlantic Region First Team. He was also a PSAC West First Team selection and the PSAC West Athlete of the Year.
IUP (D2) transfer Dallis Dillard is currently visiting Penn State, a source tells me.
— College Basketball Content (@CBBcontent) April 10, 2026
The 6-3 guard from Harlem, NY averaged 20.6 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4.7 APG and shot 46.8% from the field. pic.twitter.com/0TXn6p4krn
The two guards bring veteran experience, something Rhoades will need as he fills out his roster. Forward Ivan Juric and guards Reggie Grodin, Tibor Mirtic, and Chris Lotito are all rising sophomores ahead of the 2026-27 season. The only veteran left on the roster is rising senior forward Sasa Ciani. Rhoades also added older players to his list of incoming freshmen in forwards Roko Prkacin, 23, and Francois Wibaut, 21.
However, NCAA experience, even at the Divison II level, matters, and both Rodgers and Dillard can bring that to Penn State. Balancing talent from all areas (international, Transfer Portal, and recruitment) might be the perfect recipe for the Nittany Lions for their upcoming season.