Skip to main content
penn-state logo

Report: Penn State basketball picks up Croatian 7-footer

nate-mug-10.12.14by:Nate Bauer•05/06/25•

NateBauerBWI

penn-state-basketball-picks-up-7-footer-from-croatia
Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades. (Photo credit: Steve Manuel/BWI)

The wait is over for the Penn State men’s basketball program. More than two weeks since the signing of its last offseason addition to the roster, head coach Mike Rhoades and the Nittany Lions’ staff have picked up another.

According to a report from Jonathan Givony on X, Penn State has landed the commitment of Ivan Juric, a 7-foot center from Croatia. Goric is an On3 three-star ranked No. 20 in the Class of 2025 at the center position and No. 3 among all Kansas prospects, playing with Sunrise Christian Academy last season.

In an interview with Pro Insight last November, Juric describes his strengths as stepping out to shoot from beyond the arc, playing back to the basket, and being mobile for his size. He said his improvements need to be playing with more physicality, particularly in the paint, improving his shot blocking and rebounding.

Penn State hunts international recruiting opportunities

Penn State’s coaching staff has continued to evaluate and pursue potential additions to its roster for the 2025-26 season. Among them, the Nittany Lions were believed to be actively evaluating the international market, primarily in Europe’s many professional leagues. 

A reality made plain on this year’s All-Big Ten teams in which Michigan’s Vladislav Goldin and Illinois’ Kasparas Jakucionis earned second- and third-team recognition, respectively, overseas prospects have become increasingly appealing to major conference programs. Penn State is among those programs open and eager to reap the rewards of international contributions.

“We’re recruiting all over the world. I think in the landscape of college athletics and college athletic recruiting, you have to be open to everything. High school kids, the portal, and of course, international,” said Rhoades. “We’ve recruited internationally before. I have guys on our staff who have done it and have made those many trips all over the world to do that.  I think that’s very important to us. 

“You’ve seen it around college basketball the last two years, especially this past year, and in our league. And let’s be open to that.”

Twice within Penn State’s first two recruiting classes under Rhoades, those avenues have been explored. First welcoming Bragi Gudmundsson from Iceland in the rushed Class of 2023, the Nittany Lions followed by turning to Hudson Ward from Western Canada. 

Though neither player made much impact in their short tenures with the program, the Penn State staff has experience, comfort, and connections in the international market.

“It’s helped us in places that I’ve been with international. And we have guys on our staff who have international contacts,” said Rhoades. “(Brent Scott) played for a long time. Joe (Crispin) played for a long time. There are connections because of those past relationships. People that I know who are coaching overseas, and players. And my former players who are playing professionally over there have told me about players and stuff like that over the years. 

“Now more than ever, I think because of what you can offer young people who are playing over there to come over here and get an education and play college basketball and be taken care of, that’s something that is appealing to a lot of international kids now.”

Where things stand for Penn State (9, scholarships filled)

Guards Freddie Dilione, Dominick Stewart, Kayden Mingo
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

Talk about it with our premium members in the Lions Den message board, here!

You may also like