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Penn State wrestling recruiting: Lions see Bo Bassett, make Jax Forrest's top 10, and host a visitor

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•09/25/24•

GregPickel

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Class of 2026 recruit Tyler DeKraker poses for a photo with Penn State head wrestling coach Cael Sanderson. (Photo courtesy of Tyler DeKraker via Instagram)

Penn State wrestling will soon be back on the mat to defend its 2023-2024 NCAA title. While the team is busy preparing for the start of a new season, the coaching staff is keeping busy on the recruiting trail as September winds to a close. What’s the latest on the program’s efforts to continue it’s long-running history of success?

Let’s start with Bo Bassett. The nation’s No. 3 pound-for-pound prep wrestler in the country according to MatScouts and the No. 1 grappler at 144 pounds per FLO Wrestling welcomed Cael Sanderson and his staff for an in-home visit on Tuesday. Unsurprisingly, it went well.

“Last night was my visit with Coach Cael! I will tell you the visit was amazing and it may have been one of the best home visits yet,” Bassett wrote in his ‘Inner Circle’ newsletter. He promised a more extensive update in next Wednesday’s edition. “I have loved wrestling for a very long time, I think since I was born, and having Coach Cael in my house didn’t seem real. I don’t know if many people think on the same level of the PSU Staff.”

More: Penn State to host Drexel during 2024-2025 season

Bassett dropped Pittsburgh off of his list of suitors this week. That leaves 16 schools still in the running in addtiton to Penn State:  Virginia Tech, Cornell, Michigan, Ohio State, Lehigh, Air Force, Rutgers, Iowa State, Pitt-Johnstown, Princeton, Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Arizona State, Northern Iowa, Missouri. The Class of 2026 star recently took an official visit to see the Wolverines. His next trip will take him to see the Hawkeyes Oct. 25-27. When he will officially visit the Nittany Lions is not yet clear.

In other recruiting news, Bassett’s Bishop McCort teammate, Jax Forrest, has cut his list of suitors to 10. Penn State made the cut along with Lehigh, NC State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa, Iowa State, Nebraska and Oklahoma State. MatScouts calls him the No. 5 pound-for-pound wrestler in the country. And, FLO puts him at No. 2 at 132 pounds. He took the Michgan trip with Bassett. But, when he will visit the Lions is not yet clear, either. Regardless, they are two of the progam’s top targets in the Class of 2026.

Last but not least, Penn State wrestling hosted two official visitors last weekend. Blair, N.J., Academy Class of 2026 recruit Tyler Dekraker was on the sideline at Beaver Stadium with Sanderson. FLO calls him the No. 9 high school wrestler at 132 pounds. The junior has also visited Minnesota and Oklahoma as he continues his recruiting process. When he will make a decision is not yet clear. Florida junior Michael Mocco was also on hand. MatScouts calls the U17/Cadet World Champion the nation’s No. 6 wrestler at 215 pounds.

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