As the fall semester begins at Penn State, official visit season is in full swing across college basketball.
The Nittany Lions have one recruit scheduled for a visit while another is planning to stop by State College at some point. Penn State has also made short lists for two other prospects.
Mike Rhoades and company already have a 2026 commit in Dionycius Bakare, and they could still bring in more players in the class. Here’s who to watch as the 2026 recruiting cycle continues into the fall.
Julius Avent
Penn State is a finalist for 247Sports composite 4-star forward Julius Avent, who attends Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey. He’s the No. 87 player nationally, No. 12 power forward and No. 3 player in his home state.
Mike Rhoades was reportedly spotted by On3 at some of Avent’s games at Peach Jam, which is a Nike EYBL tournament hosted in July. Avent plays with the PSA Cardinals — the same AAU team freshman Kayden Mingo was with.
The Nittany Lions are scheduled to get Avent on campus for an official visit on Sept. 6. He announced his offer from Penn State on June 12.
Michigan State, Xavier, Providence and Seton Hall all have a visit scheduled with Avent as well.
The team huddles after a play in Penn State men’s basketball’s game against Saint Francis in the Bryce Jordan Center on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024 in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions beat the Red Flash 92-62.
Noah Aberegg
Trent Perry
Penn State is in the mix for 4-star small forward Trent Perry as most recent reports say he’s planning to visit Happy Valley.
He’s completed visits to Maryland and TCU and has one scheduled with Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. Perry also plans on visiting Sacramento State and Oklahoma State.
Perry is the No. 113 player nationally, No. 43 small forward and No. 4 player from Missouri. He plays at Link Academy.
Cello Jackson
Four-star small forward Cello Jackson is another prospect who has Penn State in their short list. The Nittany Lions are in his top nine alongside Memphis, Arkansas State, Virginia Tech, Murray State, Cal, Seton Hall, Texas State and Temple.
According to Dushawn London of 247Sports, Jackson has “three visits scheduled so far,” with the three being to Murray State, Arkansas State and Memphis.
Jackson plays at Columbus High School in Miami and ranks as the No. 139 player nationally, No. 48 small forward and No. 22 player from Florida.
Penn State men’s basketball head coach Mike Rhoades crosses his arms during a game against Minnesota on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024 at the Bryce-Jordan Center in University Park, Pa. The Nittany Lions lost to the Golden Gophers 74-83.
Joel Haas
Jayden Hodge
Small forward Jayden Hodge, a 4-star recruit out of Florida, included Penn State as a finalist. His top eight also features Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Old Dominion, Georgetown, Virginia, Northwestern and VCU.
Hodge completed visits to Georgetown and Northwestern in June and has one scheduled with Old Dominion on Sept. 6, per Sam Lance of Zagsblog.
The 6-foot-6, 190-pounder attends Montverde Academy and comes in as the No. 59 player nationally, No. 24 small forward and No. 11 player from Florida.
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