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Impressing at G League Elite Camp, Yanic Konan Niederhauser earns NBA Combine invitation

nate-mug-10.12.14by:Nate Bauer•05/12/25•

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Penn State center Yanic Konan Niederhauser has been invited to participate in this week's NBA Draft Combine. (Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images)

The G League welcomed 45 NBA hopefuls to its G League Elite Camp over the weekend in Chicago offering an opportunity to perform in front of scouts and front office personnel. For the best of the event’s participants, a chance to parlay a strong performance into an invitation to this week’s NBA Draft Combine also was on the table.

Penn State center Yanic Konan Niederhauser maximized both.

Coming out of an impressive showing in the weekend’s workouts and exhibition games on Saturday and Sunday, Konan Niederhauser was among four participants to earn NBA Draft Combine invitations on Sunday night. He is joined by Missouri’s Tamar Bates, Gonzaga’s Ryan Nembhard, and international prospect Lachlan Olbrich.

Saturday, Konan Niederhauser posted 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks over 21:59. Sunday, he backed it up with another 14-point effort, going 6-of-6 from the floor while posting a team-high 8 rebounds, a block, and a steal.

Yanic Konan Niederhauser explains NBA Draft thinking

Following the performance, NBA Draft reporter Jonathan Givony of ESPN caught up with Konan Niederhauser to recap the weekend. Though the interview took place before the NBA Draft Combine invitation had been extended, the Penn State center revealed his goals through the process and where he stands as the decision crystallizes between returning to the Nittany Lions for a final season of eligibility or keeping himself eligible for the draft.

Pleased by having shown his skillset and potential to the people in attendance at the NBA G League Elite Camp, he acknowledged his intent to continue along that path as far as it leads him before coming to a decision.

“I’m coming to the final decision by end of May. I’m not gonna make the decision yet. There is still a little process going on,” Konan Niederhauser said. “But I mean, since these two days was successful, and what I want to do is stay in the draft, that is what we want to do, stay in here, go all the way, the final decision is gonna come by the end of this month.”

Offering that scouts could see his athleticism, his ability to play above the rim, and what he brings to the defensive end of the floor, Konan Niederhauser added that he could put the ball on the floor and create for himself and others in one-on-one positions. Determined to show that he belongs, and believing he’d done so, the feedback he receives moving forward will dictate where he goes from this point.

“Just to be somewhere where I’m wanted, be somewhere where I can play, be somewhere where I can get developed. And also, be a solid draft pick,” he said. “At the end, it’s gonna come to decision for me and my agency, my people.”

Where things stand for Penn State (10 spots filled)

Guards Freddie Dilione, Dominick Stewart, Kayden Mingo, Reggie Grodin
Wings Eli Rice, Mason Blackwood, Josh Reed
Bigs Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Justin Hauser, Ivan Juric

Penn State scholarship breakdown by class

Fifth year (0): 
Fourth year (2): Yanic Konan Niederhauser, Josh Reed
Third year (2): Freddie Dilione, Eli Rice
Second year (1): Dominick Stewart
First year (3): Justin Hauser, Mason Blackwood, Kayden Mingo, Ivan Juric, Reggie Grodin

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