On a team with star players like reigning Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Ace Baldwin Jr. and up-and-coming top-five conference scorer Kanye Clary, other, less flashy commodities within Penn State men’s basketball get overshadowed from time to time.

One player in particular has been underappreicated when it comes to analyzing the Nittany Lions, especially in regard to the success they’ve seen as of late. That person is starting center Qudus Wahab.

The 6’11 big man hails from Lagos, Nigeria, and is currently playing his fifth and final season of college basketball. Before playing in the blue and white of Penn State, Wahab called multiple places home. He spent the first two seasons of his career at Georgetown before transferring to Maryland for a year then heading back to D.C. to play for the Hoyas once again.

Wahab entered the portal after his third year at Georgetown and chose to join Mike Rhoades in Happy Valley for the 2023-24 season. Heading into the season, there were questions about what kind of player Penn State was getting in Wahab, and all season long, the big man has answered his critics.

In 24 games played this season, Wahab is averaging 9.4 points per game and 7.8 rebounds. In a conference filled with dominant scoring and offensive big men, Wahab continues to showcase his skills to his opponents.

Some of Wahab’s best basketball has been played throughout the Nittany Lions’ 3-0 run against Rutgers, Indiana, and Iowa.

In the Rutgers victory, the center recorded nine points and a team-high 11 rebounds, and in the win at Bloomington, Wahab totaled 14 points and seven rebounds. Even with the return of Clary, Wahab finished with another 14 points and seven rebounds against Iowa.

“I think he’s still he’s doing a really good job of taking this time down low. He’s so darn big and strong with that ball,” Rhoades said. “I just think lately he’s done a really good job of getting, as I call it, his ‘apex.’ That high point where not everyone can go to, and he has such a good touch, and he makes his free throws as well.”

Additionaly, Wahab is shooting 65.4% from the field — a career-high. His teammates continue to find Wahab in the paint and set him up for opportunities in which the big man finds ways to get shots to fall.

“I thought our guys did a good job moving the ball and getting it to him down there where he didn’t have to lose his position to gain possession,” Rhoades said. “I think his teammates got him the ball to where he can just catch it deep and get a strong pivot to finish.”

On top of his success on the offensive end, the defensive side of Wahab has been the biggest part of his game.

“His defense and his protection at the rim have been huge for us throughout the year, especially here as of late in last month,” Rhoades said. “The way he’s moving has been better than ever, and he’s playing with an edge which is great.”

Wahab is averaging a career-high 0.8 steals and 1.5 blocks which is the most since his sophomore season. His 7.8 rebounds per game lead the team, too.

With the performances Wahab continues to register, he can only be a huge x-factor for Rhoades as the team reaches the final stretch of the regular season.