Penn State basketball and Mike Rhoades make significant transfer portal addition

The Nittany Lions have acquired another big man from the transfer portal. Jeff Goodman reported that Penn State has landed Northern Illinois transfer Yanic Konan Niederhauser. Niederhauser stands at 6’11” and has two years of eligibility remaining in his college career. Last season, Niederhauser averaged 7.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks on 19.6 minutes per game. He shot 54.1% from the field, and showed last season that he is capable stretching the floor and shooting the three. 

Niederhauser is an athletic big man who can run the floor very well for someone his size. Niederhauser is extremely physical down in the post, and he is a force while protecting the rim. Donning the blue and white, Niederhauser will attempt to emulate the shot-blocking abilities of former Penn State center Qudus Wahab, as his departure from the team was a big loss. Penn State ranked 11th in offensive rebounds per game in the Big Ten last season. With Niederhauser's frame and athleticism, he will help on that front, as the Nittany Lions struggled on both sides of the glass last season, ranking dead last in the conference in defensive rebounds per game.

Niederhauser is the second transfer portal addition for head coach Mike Rhoades, earlier picking up a commitment from former Xavier center Kachi Nzeh. It is also worth noting that Merrimack guard and Northeast Conference Player of the Year Jordan Derkack took a visit to Penn State this past weekend. He currently ranks 121st in 247sports’s transfer portal rankings.

Rhoades and staff will look to fill two more roster spots for next season, barring any other changes to the team.