Penn State center becomes program’s first 1st-round NBA pick. How he fits with L.A.
For the first time in program history, Penn State had a player selected in the first round of the NBA Draft.
Nittany Lion center Yanic Konan Niederhauser was taken 30th overall by the Los Angeles Clippers to close out the first day of the 2025 NBA Draft on Wednesday night. Konan Niederhauser spent one year with the Nittany Lions after beginning his college career with two seasons at Northern Illinois. He broke out at Penn State under head coach Mike Rhoades and with the tutelage of assistant coach Brent Scott, averaging 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game.
Let’s take a look at how Konan Niederhauser will fit with the Clippers and what he brings to the table for his new team, which is projected to pay him a $2.7 million salary his rookie season.
What he does on the court
Konan Niederhauser has plenty of upside but also does enough right now to earn playing time. He’s long and athletic as a 7-footer, and has proven to be a valuable offensive piece. He’s an excellent rim runner, who can be used as a screener in pick-and-rolls and then barrel toward the rim to get easy finishes. He has above-average hands and has proven his willingness to try and finish around — and over or through — defenders when attacking downhill. He showed some promise as a post scorer at Penn State, but needs to work on his ability to finish with skill. That applies to his shooting, too, where everything there is more theoretical right now — although he has a chance to be a 3-point shooter down the road.
On defense, he’s a ball of clay with the type of elite athleticism that NBA teams are looking for in a rim protector. He measured in at 6-foot-11, 243 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine, and is every bit of that size and uses it on defense. Right now he’s more of a block-hunter than a rim protector, but has the defensive instincts and basketball IQ to be a quality defender in due time. He fouls too much, and doesn’t defend well in the pick-and-roll, but with additional coaching he should continue to blossom. In his one year under Scott he made strides in that regard and there’s no reason to believe he won’t in the NBA too.
How he fits with the Clippers
This is a pretty good landing spot for Konan Niederhauser, with an entrenched starter in place at center in Ivica Zubac — who has proven to be one of the best bigs in the league — and some minutes potentially available behind him. The Clippers could add a veteran in free agency at center, but odds are they aren’t going to find anyone substantially better than the former Nittany Lion, giving him a chance to be the team’s primary backup as a rookie. Because of the positional value, it’s unlikely anyone they sign anyone in free agency beyond a one-year deal, meaning Konan Niederhauser should be the backup at least by his second year.
As for his fit on the court, he should be maximized whenever he’s out there with James Harden, who is highly likely to return to the team whether he accepts his player option or declines it and re-signs with the Clippers. Harden is one of the best pick-and-roll ball-handlers of all-time and is one of the best lob-throwers of all-time. Konan Niederhauser should be spoon-fed opportunities whenever he’s on the court with Harden and should be able to excel on that front — if he can lock down the backup center spot and earn 10-15 minutes per game.
