Nittany Lions Ink Reggie Grodin and Ivan JuricNittany Lions Ink Reggie Grodin and Ivan Juric

Nittany Lions Ink Reggie Grodin and Ivan Juric

Incoming freshmen join highest-ranked recruiting class in program history

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Peter and Ann Tombros Endowed Head Coach Mike Rhoades has announced the signing of Reggie Grodin and Ivan Juric, who will join the Nittany Lions’ highest-ranked recruiting class in program history as incoming freshmen for the 2025-26 season.

Grodin (Larchmont, N.Y.) and Juric (Zagreb, Croatia) will join Mason Blackwood (Rochester, N.Y.), Justin Houser (Camp Hill, Pa.) and Kayden Mingo (Farmingdale, N.Y.) as Penn State’s Class of 2029, which ranks 23rd in the country per 247Sports and is the highest-ranked recruiting class in program history.

Reggie Grodin 

6-5 Guard | Larchmont, N.Y. | Newman School (Mass.) | EYBL New York Lightning

  • Helped lead Newman School to 2025 NEPSAC AAA Championship and 32-8 overall record while averaging 12.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 2.5 steals per game.
  • Shot 68 percent from two-point range and 41 percent from 3-point range with a 3.1 assist-to-turnover ratio, while posting the highest efficiency rating on Newman School team.
  • Finished high school career with 1,375 points, 400 rebounds, 204 assists and 140 steals.
  • Spent freshman and sophomore year at Greenwich Country Day School in Connecticut, where he earned Second Team All-Fairchester Athletic Association honors in back-to-back seasons.
  • Played AAU for EYBL New York Lightning, helping his team to a quarterfinal appearance at 2024 Peach Jam.
  • Helped lead the American U16 team to gold at the 2022 Maccabi Games.

Rhoades on Grodin: “Reggie brings winning basketball with him and a versatility we need on both ends of the floor.  His ability to make shots, make winning plays and defend at a high level are what we want in our program. I'm excited to watch Reggie work in our program.”  

Grodin-signed

Ivan Juric

7-0 Forward | Zagreb, Croatia | Sunrise Christian Academy (Kansas)

  • Ranked as a three-star prospect, the No. 20 center in the class, and No. 3 player in the state of Kansas per On3.
  • Averaged 14.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game at the 2024 FIBA U18 Eurobasket tournament while playing for his native country of Croatia. Shot 50 percent (7-for-14) from 3-point range through seven games.
  • Played the 2024-25 season at Sunrise Christian Academy under head coach Kyle Lindsted in Wichita, Kansas. Averaged 14.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 51 percent from the field, 43 percent from 3-point range and 69 percent from the free throw line.
  • Averaged 5.7 points and 3.4 rebounds per game while shooting 58.6 percent from two-point range during the 2023-24 season while playing for BC Dubrava in the Croatian Premier League.

Rhoades on Juric: “Ivan is a versatile big man who we really wanted in our program.  He has impressive size, strength and skill and a desire to get better.  He has played against great competition at home and here in the states and we are really excited to get him here on campus.”

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