Penn State Adds Veteran Guard Jay Rodgers

Rodgers comes to Happy Valley after four seasons at Central Connecticut State.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 10:36pm

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A fractured, geometric painting in navy, green, and orange hues, breaking down the action of a basketball game into sharp, overlapping planes, conceptually representing the veteran experience and dynamic playstyle Jay Rodgers will bring to Penn State.The cubist deconstruction of a basketball game captures the dynamic movement and energy of the sport, reflecting the veteran leadership and playmaking ability Jay Rodgers will bring to the Penn State Nittany Lions.State College Today

Penn State men's basketball coach Mike Rhoades announced the signing of veteran guard Jay Rodgers ahead of the 2026-27 season. Rodgers, who spent the past four seasons at Central Connecticut State, is coming to Penn State for his final year of eligibility.

Why it matters

Rodgers is an experienced guard who has proven to be one of the top distributors in Division I basketball. His addition to the Penn State roster will provide valuable leadership and playmaking ability to the Nittany Lions as they look to build on their recent success.

The details

The 6-foot-3 Ohio native is coming off a senior season in 2025-26 in which he averaged 11.0 points and 6.9 assists per contest, ranking eighth-best in Division I. He earned Northeast Conference second-team honors and became just the second player in Central Connecticut State history to distribute more than 200 assists in a single season.

  • Rodgers missed the 2024-25 season and majority of 2023-24 season due to injury.
  • He averaged 9.1 points and 2.3 assists per game while ranking in the top 15 in the NEC in assists per game and 3-point field goal percentage during the 2022-23 season.
  • Rodgers attended Cochise College after transferring from the University of New Orleans, earning NJCAA Region I honorable mention All-America honors in 2022.

The players

Jay Rodgers

A 6-foot-3 guard who spent the past four seasons at Central Connecticut State and is joining Penn State for his final year of eligibility.

Mike Rhoades

The head coach of the Penn State men's basketball team, who announced the signing of Jay Rodgers.

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What they’re saying

“Jay is a veteran guard who has developed into one of the premiere distributers in college basketball throughout his career. He is a playmaker who can create for both himself and his teammates at a high level and his college basketball experience will benefit us immediately. We can't wait to welcome Jay into our Penn State basketball family.”

— Mike Rhoades, Penn State Men's Basketball Coach

What’s next

Rodgers will look to make an immediate impact for the Nittany Lions in the 2026-27 season as they aim to build on their recent success and compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

The addition of veteran guard Jay Rodgers to the Penn State roster provides the Nittany Lions with an experienced and talented playmaker who can help elevate the team's offense and leadership as they seek to take the next step in their program's development.