Penn State HC Mike Rhoades alleviates some pressure with big-time transfer portal commit

Penn State Nittany Lions head men's basketball coach Mike Rhoades is under a ton of pressure heading into next season. That makes every offseason win or loss he gets incredibly important, because Rhoades doesn't have much wiggle room after going 12-20 last season and missing the NCAA Tournament for the third season in a row. In fact, there was a time late last season when Rhoades was looking like an easy candidate to be fired, so you can bet he's attacking this offseason with a desperation known to only coaches who are on the hot seat. Rhoades and Penn State got good news on Tuesday, then, when Miami (OH) forward Brant Byers decided to commit to the Nittany Lions via the transfer portal. BREAKING: Miami (OH) transfer SF Brant Byers has committed to Penn State, he announcedhttps://t.co/Vp8exlZaGe pic.twitter.com/8ig6kjK51W This is a big-time commitment for Penn State, and it's one that could very well save Rhoades' job in 2026-27. Byers will have to prove that he can step up from the MAC level to play Big Ten basketball, but the bones of a great Big Ten hooper are there. Checking in as a 6-foot-8 forward from Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Byers averaged 14.2 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season for the Redhawks.  He was named an All-MAC second-team selection and averaged 47.8% shooting from the field and 39.2% from beyond the arc on just over five three-point attempts per game. A big man who can stretch the court? That will play nicely for Penn State in 2025-26. Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!