Penn State Scores Surprise Veteran Forward Transfer: What This Could Mean for Their Season

Penn State basketball has officially added a new player to the roster for the 2025-26 season. On Saturday, the school officially announced the addition of Saša Ciani, who previously played college basketball with the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and Xavier.

• Penn State has added UIC and Xavier transfer Saša Ciani for the 2025-26 season.
• Ciani, a sophomore, averaged 9.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game at UIC last season.
• Ciani has two years of eligibility remaining.

“We’re excited to get Saša on campus and welcome him to our Penn State basketball family,” head coach Mike Rhoades said ina. released statement. “He is a veteran that will give us front court experience, size and versatility. We’re looking forward to the leadership, intense play and toughness that he will bring to our program.”Prior to beginning his college basketball career, Ciani played in the ABA League in Slovenia. The Slovenia native averaged 11.1 points per game and played in the U-20 European Championships in 2022. He also appeared on the Slovenian National Team in an exhibition in the 2023 FIBA World Cup European qualifiers, where he was a teammate of Luka Dončić.Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

When Penn State’s basketball squad drops another piece into its roster puzzle, it’s never just a routine shuffle—it’s a move that sends ripples through the landscape. Enter Saša Ciani, a name that’s been echoing from the courts of UIC to Xavier, now gearing up to bring his sophomore flair to Happy Valley for the 2025-26 season. Averaging a solid 9.9 points and hauling down 7.6 rebounds per game last season, this Slovenian native isn’t just another transfer—he’s a dynamic presence with two years still left on the eligibility clock. As a veteran frontcourt player who’s tangibly shaken up European leagues and even shared court space with Luka Dončić on the Slovenian National Team, Ciani’s coming to Penn State with size, versatility, and a tough-as-nails attitude that Coach Mike Rhoades is clearly jazzed about. It’s one of those moments where you lean in, knowing this addition isn’t just about stats—it’s about heart, leadership, and grit that’ll turbocharge the Nittany Lions’ aspirations. LEARN MORECiani is coming off his sophomore season with UIC, where he played in 27 games and started 21 games. In that playing time, Ciani averaged 9.9 points per game and 7.6 rebounds per game. He ranked second in the Missouri Valley Conference with his rebounds per game. As a freshman, Ciani played in 31 games for Xavier, including five starts.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and ThreadsCiania will have two seasons of eligibility remaining upon his arrival in Happy Valley.