Four-Star Commit Kayden Mingo Bringing Winning Mentality & Extensive Experience To Penn State Hoops

Kayden Mingo picked up a basketball for the first time as an anxious 6-year-old who grew up attending his older brother Dalique Mingo’s games.
Twelve years later, Mingo is set to join Penn State men’s basketball as the highest-ranked recruit in program history as part of a top-20 recruiting class for the 2025-26 season.
A Long Island Lutheran High School senior and ESPN top-50 recruit, Mingo verbally committed to Penn State in November of 2024 hoping to play a role in generating a winning culture for the Nittany Lions.
Despite being in his second year as the Penn State head coach, Mike Rhoades has made a strong impression on Mingo for years, eventually leading him to commit to his team.
“I watched a lot of guards coach Rhoades has had in the past, Ace Baldwin and Bones Hyland, people like that. I really like what he does with his guards, and he talks to me about what he envisions for me when I come in,” Mingo said. “I really just love the playstyle that coach Rhoades plays with.”
As a four-star recruit playing at a nationally-ranked high school, Mingo had his fair share of college coaches reaching out to him throughout the recruiting process, but it was Rhoades who stood out from the rest.
Whether it was about basketball or not, there was a constant line of communication between the two that brought them closer and secured Penn State its future point guard.
“[Rhoades] is a real good person, and he always made sure to keep in touch, whether it was talking about basketball or anything. Overall, just the person he is and the opportunity that’s in front of me at Penn State, I feel like that was the best place for me to grow on and off the court.” Mingo said. “The opportunity for me there was second to none.”
Before donning the blue and white for the first time, Mingo is still rocking his No. 4 black and red uniform for the remainder of his senior season at Long Island Lutheran, ranked No. 16 in the country, according to ESPN.
Located in Glen Head, New York, the Crusaders play in the Nike EYBL Scholastic League, which is in its second year of operation and features 14 competing teams, 10 of which are ranked in ESPN’s top 25.
Long Island Lutheran, better known as “LuHi,” has a 4-4 record in league play after two straight wins at the Hoophall Classic, one of which featured an MVP performance from Mingo with 13 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Mingo said the tough competition he faces each game has developed him into a more college-ready basketball player.
“I feel like this is probably the highest level of basketball you could get before college. Playing against the top players, the top teams, night in and night out really prepares you for college at the highest level,” Mingo said.
Aside from facing off against talented players in every matchup, being on a team like LuHi has allowed Mingo to travel the country, which he sees as a precursor to the collegiate level while also taking in the scenes.
“That’s really a blessing, being able to see different cities, different states, different places, and play against high-level teams,” Mingo said. “Being able to do that will get you ready for college because it’ll be twice the times of this, so it’s just preparing me for the next level.”
A laundry list of highly-touted, widely-known players has suited up alongside Mingo during his high school career, including current Baylor forward V.J. Edgecombe, Carmelo Anthony’s son and Syracuse commit Kiyan Anthony, and Mingo’s younger brother Dylan Mingo, a five-star recruit in the class of 2026.
Before they rose to basketball stardom, Kayden and Dylan Mingo were two kids shooting at halftime of Dalique’s games, but the now high school teammates have taken the basketball world by storm.
While playing with his younger brother has been a dream come true, Kayden Mingo said Dylan Mingo is not making a college decision based on the older of the pair’s choice to become a Nittany Lion.
“I wouldn’t have a problem playing with Dylan. I love playing with Dylan, wouldn’t rather play with anybody else, but Dylan’s on his own path,” Kayden Mingo said. “He got his own schools. Everybody reaching out to him, his relationship with the coaches, so I understand that. I would love to play with Dylan, but he’s on his own path.”
Whether he’ll be joined by his brother or not, Mingo is looking forward to his future at Penn State, where he plans to study either finance or psychology.
“Happy Valley, see y’all soon,” Mingo said.
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