Freshman big man Kebba Njie has entered the transfer portal, according to multiple reports. His potential departure — as players who enter the portal are able to return — leaves the Nittany Lions with just two scholarship players currently on the roster.
Njie came to Penn State the second-highest rated prospect in program history and began to find his footing in the second half of the season as the Nittany Lions made a push just a few points shy of the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. While averaging just over three points and three rebounds per game in 2022-23, Njie scored six or more points on four occasions during Penn State’s final nine games of the year and showed flashes of great potential over that same span.
The nearly 6-11, 237-pound power forward is the latest in a long line of players to depart the program following now former head coach Micah Shrewberry taking over at Notre Dame. The list of departures is better illustrated in context of who does remain with the Nittany Lions as freshmen Kanye Clary and Demetrius Lilley are the only scholarship players on Penn State’s roster not in the portal.
“I got my hair cut before we went to Nebraska,” Njie said with a smile of his growing confidence prior to Penn State’s eventual loss to No. 2 seeded Texas. “And I started wearing arm sleeve too — something about arm sleeves make me feel cool.” Since the change against Nebraska, Njie shot 21-for-32 from the field and has pulled down five or more rebounds on six occasions.
“Ever since then he’s really taken off. I think his rebounding has been great,” Shrewsberry said at the time. “His effort has been great. He’s scoring the ball better. He’s catching and finishing. He’s putting time into his game outside as well to work on some things that weren’t going well for him early on. So it’s a testament to him and a testament to the work that he’s put in. He’s really helped us. Gives us another threat around the rim.”
Newly hired Penn State head coach Mike Rhoades will have his hands full looking to replace basically an entire roster of players in the coming weeks and months. Fortunately for the former VCU head coach, the Nittany Lions have plenty of room for whomever wants to call State College home.
