Penn State men's basketball player profile: Jay Rodgers, Guard

Penn State’s men's basketball roster is a blend of experienced players returning for another season, transfers, and international prospects. The team's strategy for the upcoming season is an experiment that could yield unexpected results, given the unpredictable nature of college basketball. Today, we’ll focus on one of the key transfer additions to the team, playmaker Jay Rodgers.

Born and raised in Pickerington, Ohio, Rodgers stands at 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 185 pounds. In his sophomore season at Central Connecticut, Rodgers didn’t start as a highly ranked prospect, but he worked hard to improve his skills and was eventually recruited by Penn State. When he joined the Nittany Lions, Rodgers was considered a three-star prospect.

Rodgers’ career stats have shown a steady improvement over the years. As a freshman in 2020-21, he averaged just 0.4 points per game. However, he managed to increase his scoring each subsequent season, except for the 2023-24 season when injuries hampered his performance. He reached 9.1 points, 2.3 assists, and 1.9 rebounds per game during his sophomore year at Central Connecticut. Rodgers’ best season came last year, when he averaged 11.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists per game.

For the 2026-27 season, Rodgers is projected to play as the team's point guard or primary ball handler. With 6.9 assists per game last season, Rodgers is an exceptional passer, and his addition to the team is a much-needed boost in the offense department. Guard Kayden Mingo, who transferred earlier this year, led the team with 4.3 assists per game, making Rodgers the best facilitator for the Nittany Lions.

An interesting fact about Rodgers is that he enters his seventh season of college basketball, a relatively uncommon occurrence in the sport. However, due to injuries, he has only played in four of those seasons. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X and Facebook for more updates on Penn State men's basketball.