Penn State basketball | Nittany Lions add Illinois-Chicago transfer Saša Ciani

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

Penn State men's basketball coach Mike Rhoades announced the signing of Illinois-Chicago transfer Sasa Ciani ahead of the 2025-26 season.Ciani, a 6-foot-9 forward from Slovenia who has played one year each at Illinois-Chicago and Xavier, joins Penn State with two seasons of eligibility remaining."We're excited to get Sasa on campus and welcome him to our Penn State basketball family," Rhoades said.

"He is a veteran that will give us front-court experience, size and versatility.

We're looking forward to the leadership, intense play and toughness that he will bring to our program."He saw action in 27 games while making 21 starts during the 2024-25 season at Illinois-Chicago.

Ciani averaged 9.9 points and a team-best 7.6 rebounds per game while shooting 53.3% from the field.

His 7.6 rebounds per game ranked second in the Missouri Valley Conference.Ciani tallied 11 double-doubles and scored in double figures 18 times during his sophomore season with the Flames.

He scored a season-high 16 points in comeback win at Illinois State Dec.

29, 14 of which came in a second-half rally to earn MVC newcomer of the week honors.He played in 31 games while making five starts during his freshman season at Xavier in 2023-24.

Ciani averaged 2.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game while shooting 48.5% from the field.

He collected seven points, five rebounds and five assists at eventual NIT champion Seton Hall Feb.

14, 2024, grabbed a season-high seven rebounds in a Jan.

31, 2024, win over St.

John's and supplied seven points, six rebounds and four assists in a victory over crosstown rival Cincinnati Dec.

9, 2023.Ciani played the 2022-23 season for KK Cedevita Olimpija in the ABA League First Division in his native country of Slovenia.

He also averaged 11.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.9 blocks, while shooting 65% from the field, while on loan to Cedevita Junior competing in the First Croatian League in Zagreb, Croatia.He represented Slovenia at the U-20 European Championships in 2022 (12.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg in seven games) and 2023 (12 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.4 apg in seven games).Ciani made his debut with the Slovenian National Team in August 2022 in an exhibition against the Netherlands before playing in two games for Slovenia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup European qualifiers, averaging 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds.

One of his teammates on that 2023 Slovenian National Team was NBA All-Star Luka Doncic..

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