Penn State basketball welcomes three in 2024 signing class

Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades has had a busy week.

Monday, the Nittany Lions’ leader helped launch a new basketball-specific NIL arm, with longtime friend and former coach Pat Flannery at the helm. That afternoon, Rhoades and the Penn State coaching staff welcomed the verbal commitment of four-star center Miles Goodman, who chose Happy Valley over hometown Washington. And, by the end of the night, his debut at the Bryce Jordan Center in blue and white wrapped with a 79-45 win over Delaware State.

Wednesday, he added to the list of accomplishments in three big ways.

Announced by the program on National Signing Day, Penn State has signed three players to its Class of 2024. Along with Goodman, the Nittany Lions also brought in Jahvin Carter, a three-star point guard out of Alcoa, Tenn., and Dominick Stewart, a three-star shooting guard at Southern California Academy.

Together, they represent the first signing class for Rhoades and his staff. And, led by Carter’s commitment over the summer, just months into the whirlwind of team building at Penn State, the Nittany Lions landed a lead guard that they expect to help lead the way for the program moving forward.

“Our first guy was a guy who is a point guard. He very quickly built a relationship with me and the rest of our staff. And that turned into him being so excited about what we’re trying to do here,” Rhoades told in-house host Brian Tripp. “When he told us he wanted to come, I said, ‘we’re recruiting the right type of kids,’ because he was as excited about Penn State and the opportunity to play on the biggest stage, but he wanted to be with us. That creates some great relationships.

“To spearhead it with Jahvin, who’s so excited to be here. He wants to be coached and coached hard. He’s a winner. But he’s doing it at the school with the guys he grew up with his whole life and his high school. He has great pride in where he’s from, and I love that.”

Following Carter’s commitment, the Nittany Lions showed patience through the remainder of the summer. Though out scouting options hard for the Class of 2024 and beyond, Penn State used its opportunities to play host during football weekends to shore up the two commitments that would round out the class.

From the jump, that meant an official visit for Stewart, who is originally from Maryland. Listed at 6-foot-5, the combo guard parlayed his hot summer on the AAU circuit into “all-breakout” territory and, eventually, offers from a handful of schools late in the process.

Penn State was among them, believing he can be outstanding potential at the college level. Skilled as a shooter, passer, and scorer, Stewart understands the game and puts that high IQ on display on both ends of the floor. He’s a big guard at 6-foot-5, fitting the mold of combo guards at the next level. Putting it all together, with high potential for development, he’s a fit at Penn State with his best basketball ahead of him.

More than six weeks later, what led Stewart to Penn State also helped lead his prep teammate east as well. Pairing with Goodman at Southern California Academy, the 6-foot-10 center picked the Nittany Lions over the Huskies on Monday this week.

A piece Penn State loves for his versatility and what it considers expansive room for growth, the vision is shared by On3 national analyst Jamie Shaw, who weighed in on the commitment.

“When you watch Miles Goodman play, what you clearly see is the upside. Goodman is a lengthy, 6-foot-10 player, but it is the fluidity with which he moves that is really interesting,” Shaw wrote. “Goodman has loose hips and he is able to move his body both laterally and vertically. You see the upside that he has on defense, both being able to play in the passing lanes, switch and moves his feet, and act as a rim protector. 

“You also clearly see the upside his frame has to put on quality weight. With his length, Goodman has broad shoulders which should take well to a college strength and conditioning program.  On the court, Goodman has good hands and he has touch. While he is still raw and figuring out his own game, Goodman is capable of stepping out and knocking down a shot with range as his feet are set. While he will need to continue strengthening his core and base, he does show a post-move going over his left shoulder.”

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Rhoades will join reporters for his weekly press conference on Thursday afternoon from the Bryce Jordan Center, where he will provide more insight into each of the Nittany Lions’ three signees.