Penn State men’s basketball center Justin Houser is entering the transfer portal, per Dushawn London of 247Sports. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

Houser was part of Penn State’s strong 2025 recruiting class, alongside the likes of four-stars Kayden Mingo and Mason Blackwood. The Malvern, Pennsylvania, native was a three-star recruit and ranked No. 237 in the nation and No. 8 in the state.

The initial plan was for the 7-foot freshman to redshirt behind incumbent center Yanic Konan Niederhauser, but the Swiss big man’s tremendous NBA Combine performance saw him enter the draft and become the program’s first-ever first-round pick, leaving head coach Mike Rhoades with a decision to make on Houser.

Despite a limited role behind fellow newcomers Ivan Juric and Sasa Ciani, Rhoades pulled the redshirt early and used Houser in a limited role. He would only play 112 total minutes across 18 games, maxing out at 21 in the blowout loss in Ann Arbor to the eventual national champions, Michigan. In limited action this season, he scored 26 points, grabbed 20 rebounds, and blocked eight shots, shooting 43% from the field and 3-for-9 from downtown.

Houser is the latest Nittany Lion to enter the transfer portal since it opened earlier this week, joining Freddie Dilione V, Kayden Mingo, Dominick Stewart, Eli Rice, Mason Blackwood, and Melih Tunca. As things stand, there are only five holdovers still on the roster with three incoming freshmen.