Penn State Basketball Faces Roster Overhaul as Players Enter Transfer Portal

Voice of Penn State sports Steve Jones analyzes the impact of Nittany Lions players testing the transfer market.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 7:06pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a college basketball game broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in navy, crimson, and white, conveying the fragmented and uncertain nature of Penn State's roster changes.The transfer portal's impact on Penn State's basketball roster creates a complex, fragmented picture for the program's future.Penn State Erie Today

Penn State basketball is facing significant roster turnover as multiple players, including star point guard Kayden Mingo, have entered the NCAA transfer portal. Steve Jones, the longtime radio voice of Penn State football and men's basketball, provided analysis on his daily sports talk show about the Nittany Lions' transfer situation and the potential outcomes for the program.

Why it matters

Losing key players to the transfer portal can be a major setback for college basketball programs, forcing them to rebuild their rosters and chemistry. Penn State is facing this challenge as it looks to build on recent seasons and compete in the Big Ten.

The details

Jones explained that when a player enters the transfer portal, it's generally assumed they are leaving the program, but there is still a chance they could return. The Nittany Lions currently have seven players from last year's roster testing the market. Regarding Mingo specifically, Jones noted that the star point guard's recent actions, like talking to the strength and conditioning coach about rescheduling a workout, suggest he may still be considering a return to Penn State. However, Jones acknowledged that Mingo will likely have significant interest from other programs that could offer more playing time or financial incentives.

  • The NCAA transfer portal closes on April 21, 2026, but the process may not be finalized until April 23 due to a 48-hour period to properly post and complete the transactions.
  • Players can continue signing with new teams even after the April 23 deadline, potentially into June.

The players

Steve Jones

The longtime radio voice of Penn State football and men's basketball, who hosts the daily sports talk show 'Sports Talk With Steve Jones'.

Kayden Mingo

The star freshman point guard for the Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball team who has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Ivan Juric

The highly-talented 7-foot forward for the Penn State Nittany Lions men's basketball team who has re-signed with the program.

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What they’re saying

“Let me put this way. When a guy (Mingo) is in on Monday talking to the strength and conditioning coach about re-scheduling his lift because he was sick, it's kind of an unusual thing to do if you're out the door. So anytime anybody goes into the portal you know it's less than 50% you retain him. That's the odds. You're also a point guard. You're a really good player. They'll be people that will attempt to throw money at him. If that happens, that happens. It would not surprise anybody. It also would not shock me if he's here. Sometimes you test the market.”

— Steve Jones, Radio Host

What’s next

Penn State has already been in contact with several guards through the transfer portal, including IUP's Dallis Dillard, Central Connecticut's Jay Rodgers, Buffalo's Daniel Freitag, and UAB's Chance Westry, as the program looks to rebuild its roster.

The takeaway

Losing key players to the transfer portal is a significant challenge for college basketball programs, and Penn State is facing this issue as it looks to build on recent seasons and compete in the Big Ten. The program will need to work quickly to fill roster holes and find the right mix of returning players and new additions through the transfer market.