Bo Bassett recruitment: Penn State wrestling sets its in-home visit with the star 2026 recruit
Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson and his staff are set to see one of the nation’s top Class of 2026 recruits next week. McCort, Pa., junior Bo Bassett said in an email blast to his ‘Inner Circle’ members on Wednesday that the legendary leader of the Nittany Lions is set to see him and his family soon as his well-researched recruitment rolls along.
“Next week Coach Cael and Penn State are coming in,” Bassett wrote. “Then the Monday after WNO, Michigan is sticking around for a home visit. I am really pumped for both of them. Some wrestlers don’t like this process, but I can honestly say I am really enjoying it. My view is, I only get to do the recruiting process once, so I am going to enjoy it and have fun with it. I sometimes like to do things different and hope everyone likes these updates. When I was in elementary school, I would have done anything to follow along with Spencer Lee, Jason Nolf or Zain Retherford recruiting process.”
Bassett is fresh off winning a bronze medal in the 65-kilogram men’s freestyle division at the U20 World Championships. He is MatScout’s No. 3 pound-for-pound high school wrestler in the country and the top-ranked prep-level grappler at 144 pounds. Coaches from Rutgers, Ohio State, Iowa, Virginia Tech, Cornell, and Iowa State have already had in-home visits with Bassett. Princeton will have one on Sept. 18. A list of suitors that included practically every college with a wrestling program in the country is now down to 18. The following schools are still in the running:
Virginia Tech
Cornell
Michigan
Ohio State
Lehigh
Penn State
Air Force
Rutgers
Iowa State
Pitt-Johnstown
Princeton
Iowa
Pittsburgh
Nebraska
Oklahoma State
Arizona State
Northern Iowa
Missouri
Will Penn State land Bo Bassett?
This recruitment has featured few hints regarding how it will end despite Bassett being very open about how the process is playing out.
While most assume that Iowa, Penn State, and Oklahoma State are the favorites, Rutgers has done a great job with the junior and has an outside chance. Obviously, David Taylor’s decision to take over the Cowboys program altered the trajectory of this recruitment. It’s premature to say Penn State is in the driver’s seat. But, it does not lose many recruitments it wants, regardless of where the prospect is from, but especially in Pennsylvania. It’s never had to go head to head with Taylor while also trying to fend off Iowa and others, though. Thus, making a prediction here is a fool’s errand. But Bassett will reveal to the world where he is taking his already impressive resume and immense talents soon enough.
