Happy Valley experienced a vibrant athletics scene in 2025 with million-dollar renovations to athletic facilities across various sports and fresh investments in the rosters on the field. There are expectations for Penn State athletics to bring a competitive front to the Big Ten landscape, no matter how big or small the sport is.
Despite not having an impressive history, the Nittany Lions men's basketball team did a revamp to its roster to turn to a new page. That's not to say after 70 years, Penn State will suddenly be an NCAA Final Four team. However, new stars are proving that the blue and white can become something worthwhile and not live in the shadows of previous success.
Head coach Mike Rhoades put together the team's best recruiting class all-time since Penn State's been in the Big Ten. One freshman, in particular, already solidified himself as a standout player and is evidence of the success Rhoades had bringing new talent in.
Being named the best incoming freshman of all time is a lot of pressure for a program looking to succeed, and Rhoades only amplified that when he "gave the keys" of the program to this recruit. That recruit, though, guard Kayden Mingo, only exceeded this level of maturity thrust upon him and has given the program as a whole reason to believe that better times are ahead.
The New York native is approaching team-high averages across the board and ranks in the Top 25 in minutes per game in the Big Ten, demonstrating a maturity beyond his years.
Mingo sits just 0.2 points per game behind fellow freshman Melih Tunca, who leads the team with scoring at 15.5. While not taking the top spot, he averages a strong five rebounds and four assists per game, a steal per contest, while turning the ball over only twice per game.
It's only been four games against easier opponents. Penn State out-places every school its faced in KenPom rankings by favorable margins, but that shouldn't diminish the future for this budding star on the court.
Mingo's all-around contributions on the floor already boosted his standings within the advanced analytic community and, therefore, his NBA hopes.
The six-foot-three-inch guard's performances, although still early and not against the strongest of opponents, are inspired by the very values of Penn State athletics. He's embodying an identity that the Nittany Lions program needs not just on the roster, but in a leader.
Mingo hasn't been in Happy Valley long, but there is reason to believe he will soon write a very successful legacy there with the masterful young core that he's a part of.
With that early foundation of success that's been built, it may be expanded on, not just by the newcomer, not just by another young guard or player, but by another Mingo.
Kayden is the middle of three brothers. His older brother, Dalique, was a six-foot-two-inch guard who made 90 appearances over four years for Howard University from 2014 to 2018, a brilliant hooper in his own right, and now an accomplished trainer.
The baby of the trio, Dylan, is the largest in size, at six-foot-five-inch with a six-foot-100-inch wingspan. With this physical blessing, he garnered more hype than his older brothers, including Kayden. The current high school senior is a five-star, top-ranked player from New York who attracted interest from all the top programs.
One such program, in the running with basketball schools such as UNC and Baylor, is Penn State, which is admittedly helped by family ties and might not be in if the situation with Kayden was different.
It's a situation Penn State athletics finds itself in with an opportunity again to push all the chips in for another top recruit to come to Happy Valley, as Dylan soon makes his college decision.
It's only possible due to the help of a talent in Kayden; the future looks bright to build something, and while one-and-done hopes are on the table for him, his brother's entry to college, possibly even to Happy Valley, could see his talents stay.
For a program that needs his abilities, this is an urgent question. The NBA will soon come calling for the new star Nittany Lions' guard, and the status of Penn State basketball begins to grow under strong administrative leadership.