Earlier this month, the Penn State Nittany Lions got some significant news as big man Yanic Konan Niederhauser announced his plan to declare for the 2025 NBA Draft. He’s presently opted to maintain his eligibility, so it should be a fascinating decision to follow.
During his single season at Penn State, Konan Niederhauser played in 29 games and averaged 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game. He wasn’t a dominant player, but he was a solid player down low and seemed to gain some momentum toward the end of the season. There’s also been continued improvement from his first two seasons, which were spent at Northern Illinois.
Should Konan Niederhauser remain in the Draft, it will just add another question mark for the Nittany Lions heading into next season. The team had three seniors in its lineup and another that was one of its key depth options, and that doesn’t even include Konan Niederhauser. If he ends up leaving, it could be quite an overhaul for Mike Rhoades and his staff after what was already an underwhelming season.
We’ll have to wait and see how things sort out, but it’s likely to be one of (if not) the biggest offseason decisions for Penn State this spring. Expect Rhoades and his staff to otherwise be active on the recruiting trail.