Despite Penn State’s disappointing 16-15 finish in the 2024-25 season, one former Nittany Lion has made significant program history.
Yanic Konan Niederhasuer, the 7-foot big man who transferred from Northern Illinois this past season, became the first Penn State men’s basketball player selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. The Los Angeles Clippers took him with the final pick in the stanza, 30th overall, Wednesday night.
Niederhasuer was in attendance for the draft Wednesday night alongside the entire Penn State coaching staff, including head man Mike Rhoades and frontcourt coach Brent Scott.
Penn State’s previous highest-drafted player in the modern era was guard Jalen Pickett to the Denver Nuggets with the No. 32 pick in the second round of the 2023 draft.
Niederhauser was a revelation for Penn State in an otherwise disappointing season, averaging 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 29 games. He became an All-Big Ten honorable mention in his lone season in Happy Valley.
The Switzerland native blew up in NBA Draft circles after a strong performance at the G League Elite Camp this spring, earning an invite to the official draft combine to continue his impressive run.
Thanks to his playmaking around the rim on both sides of the ball, as well as the potential to develop an outside shot, Niederhauser made a quick turnaround from a little-known player at NIU to a first-round NBA pick.
Niederhauser announced at the end of the season his intentions to test the NBA Draft waters, though he promised he’d return to Penn State if things didn’t work out. Thanks to his meteoric rise, it was hard to turn away a chance at first-round status.
Penn State is now left with an entirely new frontcourt for the 2025-26 season, featuring Pennsylvania freshman Justin Houser, Croation freshman Ivan Juric and Slovenian newcomer Tibor Mirtic.
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