Penn State Basketball Signs Transfer Forward Saša Ciani

Penn State men’s basketball has added another player from the transfer portal as coach Mike Rhoades continues to build the roster for his third season at the helm of the Nittany Lions.

Saša Ciani, a 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward from Slovenia, heads to Penn State with two years of eligibility remaining after playing for Illinois-Chicago last season and Xavier as a freshman two years ago.

“We’re excited to get Saša on campus and welcome him to our Penn State basketball family,” Rhoades said in a statement announcing the signing on Saturday. “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.”

Ciani averaged 9.9 points on 53.3% in 27 games, including 21 starts, for UIC in 2024-25. His 7.6 rebounds per game led the Flames and ranked second in the Missouri Valley Conference.

He registered 11 double-doubles and scored in double digits 18 times.

As a freshman in 2023-24, Ciani 31 games with five starts for Xavier, averaging 2.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field.

Prior to his arrival in the U.S., Ciani played for KK Cedevita Olimpija in the ABA League First Division in his native Slovenia and Cedevita Junior competing in the First Croatian League, where he averaged 11.1 points on 65% shooting, 6.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steal and 0.9 blocks per game.

He also represented Slovenia at the U-20 European Championships and played on the Slovenian national team in 2022 and 2023.

Ciani joins a new-look Penn State roster for 2025-26 that also includes the offseason additions of Cincinnati transfer forward Josh Reed and the highest-rated recruiting class in program history. That group is headlined by four-star guard Kayden Mingo, joined by guards Mason Blackwood and Reggie Grodin and center Justin Houser, as well as two international players in Croatian big Ivan Jurić and a Turkish guard Melih Tunca.

The Nittany Lions also reportedly have a commitment from another Slovenian prospect, forward Tibor Mirtič, who has played five seasons in the ABA. Penn State has not yet announced his signing.