Penn State coach Mike Rhoades signs two new players, including a 7-foot forward from Croatia, to 2025 recruiting class.
Penn State men’s basketball continues to build momentum, officially adding two more recruits to its 2025 class—now ranked No. 23 in the nation by the 247Sports Composite. Head coach Mike Rhoades confirmed the signings this week, bolstering what stands as the highest-ranked recruiting class in school history.
Ivan Juric
A 7-foot forward from Croatia, Ivan Juric most recently played for Sunrise Christian Academy in Kansas, where he averaged 14 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. Juric impressed with his shooting, hitting 51% from the field and 43% from three-point range—a notable stat for a player his size.
Before his time in Kansas, Juric represented Croatia in the 2024 FIBA U18 Eurobasket tournament. There, he posted 14.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, while shooting an impressive 50% from beyond the arc over seven games. Juric also gained professional experience, playing for BC Dubrava in the Croatian Premier League, where he averaged 5.7 points and 2.4 boards during the 2023–24 season.
Rated a three-star recruit and the nation’s 20th-ranked center by On3, Juric chose Penn State in part due to Rhoades’ international recruiting ties.
“Ivan is a versatile big man we really wanted to bring into our program,” said Rhoades. “His size, strength, and skill set are impressive, and he’s constantly looking to improve. He’s faced high-level competition both overseas and in the U.S., and we’re thrilled to get him on campus.”
Reggie Grodin
Reggie Grodin, a 6-foot-5 guard from Larchmont, New York, played last season at the Newman School in Massachusetts. He was instrumental in leading the team to a 32-8 record and a New England Prep School AA championship. Grodin averaged 12 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game while shooting a strong 68% from the floor and 41% from three.
Over his high school career, which included two seasons at Greenwich Country Day School in Connecticut, Grodin scored 1,375 points. He also competed with the New York Lightning in Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL).
“Reggie brings a winning mindset and versatility that we value on both ends of the court,” Rhoades said. “He can knock down shots, make high-IQ plays, and defend at a high level. I’m looking forward to seeing how he develops within our program.”
A Growing Class with Major Talent
Juric and Grodin join a strong Penn State 2025 class that includes four-star guard Kayden Mingo, the Gatorade Player of the Year in New York. Mingo, a top-35 national recruit per 247Sports, headlines a group poised to raise the program’s profile.
The Nittany Lions finished the 2024–25 season 14-15 overall and 6-14 in Big Ten play under Rhoades’ leadership. Despite a challenging stretch in which they dropped 11 of 12 games, Penn State capped the year with an impressive road win over Wisconsin—something the program hopes to build on heading into a promising new era.
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