For the second straight offseason, the Penn State basketball team hit the NCAA Transfer Portal hard. But the main difference for second-year coach Mike Rhoades was that as opposed to building a whole new roster like he was a year ago, he was recruiting to specific roles and trying to fill a couple holes on the roster.
Ultimately, Penn State constructed a four-man transfer portal class that addresses needs in both the backcourt and the frontcourt, while also re-balancing the roster in terms of eligibility. All four of the newcomers are either second- or third-year players, which gives Rhoades and his staff the opportunity to develop them during their time with the Nittany Lions.
The newcomers are guard Freddie Dilione V (Tennessee), forward Yanic Konan Niederhauser (Northern Illinois), forward Kachi Nzeh (Xavier) and guard Eli Rice (Nebraska). The quartet should add some skill and scoring punch to a roster that is returning five key contributors and adding four freshmen the staff is excited about.
Last week, Rhoades addressed the media for the first time since the transfer class was completed at the Penn State Coaches vs. Cancer Golf Tournament. Over the course of his media session — which can be watched here —Rhoades had the chance to break down all four of the transfer additions.
Here's a look at what Rhoades had to say about Dilione, Niederhauser, Nzeh and Rice.
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FREDDIE DILIONE V, G, TENNESSEE
Dilione was Penn State's highest-rated addition from the portal. He was rated as a four-star recruit by 247Sports and was ranked as the No. 102 overall player and No. 10 combo guard available. He brings redshirt sophom*ore eligibility to State College after spending a year-and-a-half at Tennessee.
Last season, Dilione averaged 1.7 points in 5.2 minutes per game over 18 appearances with the Volunteers. He was originally rated as a four-star recruit out of Raleigh (N.C.) Word Of God Christian Academy in the Class of 2022, and he was ranked as the No. 1 player in North Carolina, the No. 7 combo guard nationally and the No. 46 overall player in the class.
"I recruited Freddie and his family very hard when I was at VCU. He came to VCU on an official visit. So just knew the people around them, and when he went into the portal, we just jumped on it right away," Rhoades said. "Honestly, we picked up right where we left off. Personally, I just had a really good relationship with Freddie, so we just went from there and spent some time with he and his family and then got him on campus.
"Freddie's a very versatile guard with great length, very good in transition. He's still a young guy, so I think he can really develop and get better and better. We're really excited to have him. He's a very coachable kid, so I'm excited to have him here."
Rhoades held up the 6-foot-5, 195-pound Dilione as an example of how he handles relationships on the recruiting trail. Even if a player doesn't pick Rhoades —Dilione's stock rose significantly ahead of his senior year to put him into the SEC conversation — Rhoades doesn't want to break the relationship. He knows both sides might circle back later on.
Read more: Penn State Basketball Recruiting Notebook: Official visits and new offers (VIP)
YANIC KONAN NIEDERHAUSER, F, NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Niederhauser might be Penn State's most intriguing transfer portal addition just in terms of what his versatility could unlock for the offense. The 7-foot, 255-pound Niederhauser can play in the post, but he can also step out and be a passer while hitting the occasional outside shot. After having Qudus Wahab in the post for much of last season, the shape of the Nittany Lions offense could look different with Niederhauser and company down low.
Last season at Northern Illinois, Niederhauser averaged 7.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 0.3 assists in 19.6 minutes per game over 27 appearances (26 starts). In two seasons, Niederhauser averaged 5.1 points and 3.2 rebounds in 47 games (28 starts).
Niederhauser, who is entering his junior season, does have some European experience. He hails from Switzerland but played in Germany in 2021-22, splitting time between the youth and pro teams for the club Ehingen Urspring.
"Just great feel," Rhoades said. "He played a lot of basketball in Germany. That's where he really trained, and they play an exciting style where their big guys really step away and are passers. He has a great feel for a guy, 7-feet, away from the basket, passing the ball. He can shoot it. I think his role will be much different here than it was in the past. He's just not going to live on the block. He's going to do multiple things. But he also could go on the block and score. I love his feel for the game and his versatility. We're gonna count on him from Day 1, so I'm excited to coach him."
Niederhauser was rated as a three-star prospect in the portal, and he was ranked as the No. 396 overall prospect and No. 58 center available.
Read more: Penn State Basketball Recruiting: Nittany Lions set to receive official visit from Top 100 prospect (VIP)
KACHI NZEH, F, XAVIER
Our Mark Brennan has an in-depth scouting report on Nzeh here that features notes from Rhoades and former Penn State player Ben Luber, who coached Nzeh at Newtown (Pa.) George School. Nzeh, who is entering his sophom*ore year, averaged 2.5 points and 2.5 assists in 9.8 minutes per game in 19 games (four starts).
The 6-foot-8, 230-pound Nzeh was rated as the No. 34 center and the No. 207 overall player available in the transfer portal. As a member of the Class of 2023, Nzeh was a three-star recruit, and he was ranked as the No. 2 player in Pennsylvania, the No. 25 center and the No. 146 overall prospect.
Like Niederhauser, Rhoades expects Nzeh's presence down lot to help change how the Penn State offense functions.
"Well, I recruited him really hard out of high school," Rhoades said. "He played for Ben Luber, of course, who played here at Penn State. I've watched him practice, work out, play AAU games, play high school games, play high school summer league games. I loved this versatility. I loved how well he moved, how hard he played.
"His role where he was at — he's gonna have a different role than what he had there. He's a kid with skill and the way he moves [at] 6-9, 240 and his motor and the way he moves could be a huge advantage for us, especially the way we're gonna know we're gonna play and try to play faster. And he's a workaholic. He's an absolute workaholic. He'll be a guy we'll have to kick out of the gym sometimes. But guys like that, they reset your culture and they push it forward."
Read more: Penn State transfer Kachi Nzeh scouting report from high school coach Ben Luber
ELI RICE, G, NEBRASKA
The 6-foot-8, 215-pound Rice adds some size to the Penn State roster. During his freshman year at Nebraska, he averaged 4.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists in 10.1 minutes per game over 17 appearances. Rice shot 41.3% from the field and 37% from three.
Rice originally signed with Nebraska in the Class of 2023 as a three-star recruit out of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, though Rice is originally from Gallatin, Tenn. Rice was ranked as the No. 15 player in Florida and the No. 41 power forward nationally in that class.
In the transfer portal, Rice was a three-star prospect, along with the No. 39 power forward and No. 256 available prospect.
In addition to his on-court skill, Rhoades praised Rice's intangibles during his meeting with the media.
"Eli is a super competitive kid," Rhoades said. "He fits my mentality tremendously. That's what I'm really excited about. I recruited Eli hard out of high school, as well, and watched him a lot. I think he can score. I think he can play multiple positions. He draws a lot of fouls, just got an edge to him. We're going to need that from him from Day 1. We're really excited to have him. It'll be a lot of competition this summer, which is going to move our program forward."
Read more: Penn State basketball's Mike Rhoades calls Coaches vs. Cancer participation 'flat-out awesome'
THE REST OF THE ROSTER:
Penn State returns guard Ace Baldwin, guard D'Marco Dunn, forward Zach Hicks, guard/forward Puff Johnson and guard Nick Kern.
The four freshmen Penn Statesigned are guard Jahvin Carter, forward Miles Goodman, guard Dominick Stewart and forward Hudson Ward.
Daniel Gallen covers Penn State for Lions247 and 247Sports. He can be reached at daniel.gallen@paramount.com. Follow Daniel on X at @danieljtgallen and Instagram at @bydanieljtgallen.
