Penn State Basketball Reportedly Lands 7-Foot Croatian Center Ivan Juric

The clock has been ticking on Penn State to add pieces to its 2025-26 roster since last season’s conclusion. On Tuesday, after a month-long dry spell on the transfer portal and recruiting trails, the Nittany Lions dipped into the international market to earn a commitment from Croatian center Ivan Juric, ESPN’s Jonathon Givony reported.

The 7-foot, 244-pound Juric averaged 14.4 points and 5.9 rebounds across seven games in the FIBA U18 Eurobasket last summer. He should provide front court depth for a team that needs it behind Yanic Konan Niederhauser, who has declared for the NBA draft while maintaining his eligibility to return to Penn State.

Juric brings the Nittany Lions’ roster count to nine scholarship players, still a worrisome tally, given that teams are allowed to offer 15 scholarships. Mike Rhoades lost five players who ran out of eligibility while four others — Jahvin Carter, Miles Goodman, Hudson Ward and Kachi Nzeh — entered the transfer portal.

Juric joins a four-legged 2025 recruiting class that boasts four-star point guard Kayden Mingo, the highest-rated recruit in program history, as well as forward Mason Blackwood and center Justin Houser. Given the lack of proven talent on roster, this group of incoming freshmen will  likely be asked to carry prominent roles into next season.

In an offseason that Rhoades desperately needed to add transfers, he signed just one in former Cincinnati forward Josh Reed, who averaged 4.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per game this past season. With six roster remaining, it’s unlikely Reed and Juric will be Rhoades’ final additions of the offseason.