There’s a big man on campus for Mike Rhoades.

Yanic Konan Niederhauser announced he was transferring to Penn State from Northern Illinois last spring. The 7′ forward from Fraschels, Switzerland, averaged a little over seven points and four rebounds per game in his sophomore season with the Huskies.

It was unclear what Rhoades and the Nittany Lions were getting in Konan Niederhauser except for the raw ability and untapped potential seen on film. The junior forward was never the center of discussion over the offseason, but he was expected to be a piece of the puzzle for Penn State to succeed in the Big Ten and throughout the season.

Through three games, Konan Niederhauser is not just a piece, but a huge piece of that puzzle. Albeit against inferior opponents, the Nittany Lions’ starting big man has been arguably the best player for Penn State to start the season.

Konan Niederhauser is averaging 15 points per game on 65.2% shooting in three games — better numbers than from his two years at Northern Illinois. He’s averaging a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game to go along with his offensive dominance.

Since moving on from Northern Illinois, Konan Niederhauser’s offensive game has taken the next step. He hasn’t made a three-point attempt through the game, but the seven-footer can stretch the floor behind the arc, too.

Defensively, his impact on the court has been felt just as much. Whether that’s rebounding, blocking shots, or just acting as a big presence inside the paint, opposing offenses have had a hard time neutralizing the Swiss giant.

“[Konan Niederhauser] is back there to make a missed shot or block a shot, he’s got to do that without fouling. I thought he did a good job of running some stuff down, too,” Rhoades said.

Everyone inside the program has said the sky is the limit for Konan Niederhauser. But there is still a lot to learn before Big Ten play begins and the grueling part of the season ramps up.

Against Saint Francis on Tuesday, he got in foul trouble early and played only four minutes in the first half.

Konan Niederhauser still finished with 11 points and seven rebounds, but it was a learning moment for the new Nittany Lion. In Big Ten play or against tougher non-conference opponents, Rhoades will need Konan Niederhauser to stay out of foul trouble and on the court. Especially with true freshman Miles Goodman still out with an injury.

Without Konan Niederhauser, the Nittany Lions are a completely different team. Rhoades knew it last year as he mentioned time after time how important it was to have an impact player in his starting five spots. In year two in Happy Valley, Rhoades went out and got that player via the transfer portal.

“[Konan Niederhauser] has a great feel for the game. He grew up in Europe playing, he played against pros for a long, long time. He just has a great feel for how to play basketball the right way,” Rhoades said.

In a new system with increased minutes, growing pains will be inevitable for Konan Niederhauser and the Nittany Lions. Through three games, there is a lot of buzz around what this team could do this year. The combination of talent, size, and experience bodes well in college basketball.

How well Penn State does this winter in a revamped Big Ten depends on how well Konan Niederhauser fits as a puzzle piece for Rhoades and his staff.