Juric brings size to a Penn State roster that needs it. Penn State’s top interior presence last season was 7-footer Yanic Konan Niederhauser, who could be off to play professional basketball this year. If he returns, Penn State would roster two 7-footers. After the season, Rhoades said he would look to add more size through high school recruiting and the transfer portal.Juric (7-0, 244 pounds) played last season for Sunrise Christian Academy, a program that has trained multiple Division I players, including Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield. Juric plays for the high school elite team at Sunrise Christian, which also rosters a post-graduate team. Juric is a 3-star prospect, according to On3.
Juric played for the Croatian national team at the 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket Tournament, where he averaged 14.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Following the tournament, Juric joined the roster at Sunrise Christian Academy for the 2024-25 season.Penn State men’s basketball coach Mike Rhoades has said he’s open to recruiting internationally. The Nittany Lions have moved on that strategy, recruiting a 7-foot center/forward who plays in Kansas by way of Croatia.
Ivan Juric, who plays forward for Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas, has committed to Penn State’s 2025 recruiting class. Juric will join a group that features Kayden Mingo, a guard from Long Island who is the Nittany Lions’ highest-ranked recruit in program history. Sunrise Christian Academy posted Juric’s commitment on social media.
