Update June 6, 10:01 p.m.: Penn State officially signed Melih Tunca on Friday.
The work is not yet done for Mike Rhoades in piecing together a Penn State roster for next season. The Nittany Lions do, however, appear set to take a step forward by adding a coveted international prospect.
Melih Tunca, a 19-year-old guard from Turkey, has committed to Penn State, Eurohopes reported on Monday. He will join the Nittany Lions for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Tunca, who stands at a lengthy 6-foot-5, has averaged 7.2 points and 2.2 assists per game for Turkey’s Turk Telekom Ankara in the Basketbol Super Ligi (BSL) this season. The BSL is the top professional division of Turkey’s basketball system.
Tunca came to prominence last summer, when he led Turkey with 17.6 points and 6.4 assists across seven games in the FIBA U20 EuroBasket.
He joins 7-foot Croatian center Ivan Juric as the second international prospect that Rhoades has acquired this offseason. With Yanic Konan Niederhauser off to the NBA, Penn State’s roster tally is now up 10 players with more likely on their way.
Tunca should immediately compete for a starting role alongside Freddie Dilione V, a returnee, and incoming four-star freshman Kayden Mingo.
The Nittany Lions will look much different next season after losing 10 players from last year’s team. Niederhauser was only the latest piece to depart in a group that saw five players exhaust their eligibility and four enter the transfer portal from last year’s team.
Penn State will look to turn things around after missing out on the Big Ten Tournament in 2025, and Tunca should certainly help the cause.
