Penn State's basketball roster is a mix of some experienced returners, but a lot of transfers and international risks. It is a huge gamble for a team not necessarily expected to contend in the Big Ten this season but also an experiment that could come together in a unique way. Today, we take a look at one of Penn State's starting centerIvan Juric.
Preseason Player Profile
- Hometown: Zagreb, Croatia
- Height: 7-0
- Weight: 250
- Class in 2026-27: Sophomore
Recruiting Rankings
Ivan Juric was a three star prospect in the Class of 2025, gradeds as the 145th overall prospect and the 45th best power forward in the class.
Career Stats
In his first season with the Nittany Lions, Juric made a positive impression. He started 26 games and appeared in 30, averaging 10.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and .8 assists per game. His career high was 22 points where he shot o-for-10 inside the arc. Overall, on the season he shot 57.7
from the field, finishing with 790 points scored in total.
Projected role in 2026-27
Despite the logjam of depth behind him, Juric will remain the primary frontcourt anchor and the core of Penn State's offense. Last year, Juric talked about how a combination of inexperience and lack of physicality caused him to play ineffectively. This offseason however, he has focused on building strength to deal with more physical frontcourts. Combined with the help that Rhoades found in both the portal and on the recruiting trail, Juric can now be more efficient down low without being constantly overwhelmed by the lack of support around him.
Random fact
Juric actually grew up playing as a guard in Croatia. It was not until a sudden growth spurt at the age of 15 that Juric reconsidered his position.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State men's basketball player profile: Ivan Juric, F
