Latest news with #Yanic
New York Times
16-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Clippers need Yanic Konan Niederhäuser to keep channeling his ‘barbarian' side
LAS VEGAS — Yanic Konan Niederhäuser was in the dunker spot Monday at the Thomas & Mack Center when LA Clippers teammate Zavier Simpson drove hard down the middle of the paint. Simpson hit the rookie center with a good bounce pass and watched him go up against Los Angeles Lakers center Christian Koloko — and miss everything. Advertisement At that point, Konan Niederhäuser had made only two shots in nine quarters of summer-league action. None of those makes came in his first seven quarters. He only attempted one shot in his second summer-league game the night before. In the second quarter, though, Konan Niederhäuser got a couple of dunks, including one in Koloko's grill. He cut off another Simpson drive in the third quarter, finishing another dunk. And to cap the show, Konan Niederhäuser took two dribbles on a fast break following a Lakers turnover and launched himself toward the basket just inside of the free-throw circle, with total disregard for backpedaling power forward Cole Swider. It was the kind of dunk that showcased the 7-foot-3 wingspan and 37-inch maximum vertical leap from a man who checks in at 6-feet-11 and 243 pounds. YANIC?!?! HOW?!?!? 🤯🤯🤯 — LA Clippers (@LAClippers) July 15, 2025 'I was just way more aggressive today,' the 22-year-old said after scoring 10 points on 5 of 9 field goals against the Lakers as part of a 67-58 win. 'I rolled harder to the rim. Also, when I left the hotel, I said, 'Today, Konan gotta be here. Not Yanic. Konan the Barbarian.' Yanic Konan Niederhäuser on being different tonight: "When I left the hotel, I said 'today, Konan gotta be here. Not Yanic. Konan the Barbarian.'" — Law Murray 🎡 (@LawMurrayTheNU) July 15, 2025 Monday night was a breakthrough for Konan Niederhäuser, but it still highlighted areas where he has room for improvement. In a game the Clippers won by nine points, the Lakers outscored them by nine in Konan Niederhäuser's 22:54. While the Clippers were at their best with burgeoning young defender Trentyn Flowers on the floor, it has been a struggle for them to keep Konan Niederhäuser included offensively through three games. His only two free-throw attempts came in his first game Friday against the Houston Rockets, he hasn't made any shots outside of the paint despite attempting two 3s, and his next assist will be his first in summer league. Advertisement 'He's got to run the floor all day,' Clippers summer-league head coach Jeremy Castleberry said when asked about what Konan Niederhäuser needs to do to get more opportunities to score. 'If he runs the floor all game, rim protects and continues to get behind the defense, he'll be OK. He's got to get his conditioning in shape. He's working on it. Like I said, every game, he's getting better. I like everything he's doing. I have no issues with him, as long as he comes in and works harder than he did the last day.' Jeremy Castleberry continues to be happy with the progress that Yanic Konan Niederhäuser is making I asked Castleberry about what YKN needs to do to get himself more shot opportunities, and also about his level of effectiveness as a screener — Law Murray 🎡 (@LawMurrayTheNU) July 14, 2025 The Clippers drafted the Switzerland-born Konan Niederhäuser with the 30th pick in June, making him the first Penn State player selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. Even with that pedigree, he is set to be a multi-year project. General manager Trent Redden said that Konan Niederhäuser went from 6-1 as a 15-year-old to 6-9 by the time he was 18. Before he landed at Penn State, he played at Northern Illinois for two years. Now, as the third-string center behind two starting-caliber veterans who both took the long road toward improving their games, he has a long way to go and a relatively short time to get there. When Ivica Zubac was traded to the Clippers in 2019 from the Lakers, he was a month away from his 22nd birthday on March 18. Niederhäuser turned 22 on March 14. Zubac was given a starting job right away with the Clippers and didn't permanently earn that spot until 2021. This past season, he blossomed into a 30-minute player for the first time, earning his first career All-Defense selection while averaging career bests in points (16.8), rebounds (12.6) and assists (2.7). 'I was excited, happy. I felt I was in a great spot, especially with all these veterans who I can learn from,' Konan Niederhäuser said. 'A great spot to just develop and get better. It's my main goal to improve every year and just get better.' Advertisement Konan Niederhäuser knew Zubac would be his teammate when he was drafted. Once free agency began, the Clippers added 2021 NBA champion Brook Lopez on a two-year deal. Lopez, like Zubac, knows a thing or two about development. Lopez didn't make more than two 3-pointers in a season until his ninth year. Now, he's known as one of the league's elite 3-point shooting, rim-protecting centers who can still score inside at a high level. Lopez said he is willing to be a mentor to Konan Niederhäuser while also pushing the young center to get the most out of his ability. 'I was fortunate to play with a lot of great players throughout my career,' said Lopez, who turned 37 in April. 'Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Giannis (Antetokounmpo), Vince Carter. I can go down the line. But particularly, KG was someone I was fortunate to have played with when I was a younger player in this league. 'He helped mold me into the player I am today. And so, I think it's only right to pass on the things he taught me, help the younger guys the same way he helped me. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him. So I'm absolutely ready to get on the court, help him out and then help him adjust and become a great player in this league.' Konan Niederhäuser was the fifth center selected in June. The only true center who went in the lottery was Khaman Maluach out of Duke, who went No. 10 to the Phoenix Suns. The other three first-round centers were Thomas Sorber out of Georgetown (15th to Oklahoma City), Yang Hansen out of China (16th to Portland) and Joan Beringer out of France (17th to Minnesota). All of those centers are younger than Konan Niederhäuser. The Clippers worked out Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner, who became the sixth center drafted, going 34th to the Charlotte Hornets. Kalkbrenner is more experienced and pro-ready than Konan Niederhäuser, but Kalkbrenner is more than a year older after spending five years in college. Konan Niederhäuser's athletic tools — he had the second-best standing vertical leap of any player at the combine at 33 1/2 inches — likely give him the higher ceiling. Still, Kalkbrenner will likely be watched by Clippers fans as a counterpart to Konan Niederhäuser. 'I feel like I'm in a great spot,' Kalkbrenner told The Athletic. 'Part of making it in the league is being in the right place at the right time, and I feel I am. I feel there's an opportunity to play. I feel management and coaches all have a plan for me, want me to be a part of the long-term plan. So I just got to come in and do what they ask … but obviously being a fifth-year player, I have the expectation of myself, and they have the expectations of me to come in and to do some things right away. Obviously I don't think that's going to happen. You don't expect most rookies to come in and be an All-Star right away or be a star player right away, but I think I can definitely come in and impact the game right away.' Advertisement Even with the high expectations a player like Kalkbrenner has, he can relate to Konan Niederhäuser's assimilation to being a center in summer league. In three games, Kalkbrenner has 26 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field, with a high of 10 points (the same single-game scoring high as Konan Niederhäuser). As the Clippers progress through summer league, Konan Niederhäuser will progress through his development. Over time, the Clippers hope he learns how to use his body to effectively put himself in a position to make an impact on both ends of the floor. Because Konan Niederhäuser is 22 and not 19, it is even more critical to show he can make it with the Clippers; it's harder to sell the other 29 teams on a second-chance 25-year-old than it is for a second-chance 22-year-old. Konan Niederhäuser is getting a taste of what it's like to get better in a short amount of time. And he knows that he needs to channel that 'barbarian' to be the best version of himself. 'He's ruthless — I watched his movie,' Konan Niederhäuser told The Athletic when asked about 'Conan the Barbarian.' 'I know he's got his goal in mind, and if he wants to get something, he's going to get it. And he's going to do whatever he's got to do to get it.' (Photo of Yanic Konan Niederhäuser: Garrett Ellwood / NBAE via Getty Images)
USA Today
26-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Yanic Konan Niederhauser drafted in 1st round of NBA Draft
Yanic Konan Niederhauser made school history on Wednesday night by becoming the first Penn State basketball player to be selected in the first round of the NBA draft. Niederhauser was the 30th overall pick of the Los Angeles Clippers. Konan Niederhauser is the third Penn State player to be selected in the NBA draft in the past three seasons. He follows in the footsteps of Jalen Pickett (2023 to the Denver Nuggets) and Seth Lundy (2023 to the Atlanta Hawks). Before Konan Niederhauser's first-round selection by the Clippers, Pickett had been the highest-drafted player from the Nittany Lions as the 32nd pick overall in the 2023 NBA draft, in the second round. Konan Niederhauser spent just one season with Penn State as a transfer from Northern Illinois. He averaged 12.9 points per game and 6.3 rebounds per game. He earned All-Big Ten honorable mention recognition and led the conference with 2.31 blocks per game. There seemed to be some question on whether or not he should declare for the NBA draft or not following the season, but he clearly made the right decision after working out at the scouting combine and getting some positive feedback about his results. This is a milestone moment for a Penn State basketball program that has had rare moments in the basketball spotlight, but can be a valuable recruiting tool for head coach Mike Rhoades moving forward. Rhoades is entering his third season under Mike Rhoades, and he is once again rebuilding his roster. Now, with a first-round draft pick under his belt, recruiting players could get a little bit easier. And three draft picks in three seasons is worth bragging about for a program looking to maintain some successful stability in the college basketball world. Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Follow Nittany Lions Wire on X, Facebook, and Threads
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Konan-Niederhauser stays in draft, won't return to Penn State
(Nittany Nation) — Penn State's 7-footer Yanic Knonan-Niederhauser was often called the steal of the transfer portal last season, but what was thought to be a two year pickup will end early as the Swiss native will stay in the NBA Draft after a meteoric rise this spring. Jacob Myers broke the news, while Penn State basketball later posted to social media wishing him luck moving forward. Yanic Konan Neiderhauser declares for NBA draft In his one season with Penn State, Yanic average 12.9 points, and 6.3 rebounds-per-game. But his stock took off after a strong showing at the G-League Elite camp, and NBA Draft Combine. CBS Sports grades him as the 42nd best prospect, and some have said he is the best pure athlete in this class. He is projected as a second round selection. Yanic had until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday to withdraw from the draft and use his final season of collegiate eligibility. If selected, he will be the third Nittany Lion in as many season to be taken in the NBA Draft. He came to Penn State after spending two seasons playing at Northern Illinois. Yanic is a Fraschels, Switzerland native. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
04-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
In NHL debuts, top prospects Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard buoyed by Boston College teammates
NEW YORK — As Gabe Perreault took his first warmup lap of his professional hockey career Wednesday, the Rangers' top prospect shot a grin to the left corner of the ice. Seven screaming college students stood there, banging on the glass as hard as they could. After attending Ryan Leonard's hyped debut with the Washington Capitals in Boston some 24 hours earlier, the Boston College crew was back at an NHL rink to support another former member of their ranks. That morning, they had piled into two cars on campus for the 3 ½ hour drive to New York. Five minutes before warmups began, a Madison Square Garden security guard led them to the corner of the glass, closer than where fans with normal-access tickets can usually go. Advertisement 'I wasn't expecting them to be that close,' said Perreault, who skated without a helmet for the customary solo lap ahead of his debut. 'It was sick.' Three of his college friends wore Perreault's old Boston College jerseys — one maroon, one gold, one white — that they flipped around to show his name and college No. 34 on the front. 'We wanted to make it special for him,' said sophomore Aram Minnetian, a defenseman and 2023 Dallas Stars draft pick who lived with Perreault at Boston College and wore the gold jersey against the glass. The Eagles players, whose season ended Sunday in the NCAA regionals, also sported backwards Boston College jerseys while standing at the glass for Leonard's debut. Sophomore Nolan Joyce said they'd seen other college teams do it, so they thought it was a good idea. 'I wasn't shocked,' Boston College coach Greg Brown said. 'You know how much fun those guys have being teammates and how happy they are for Gabe to have that opportunity to play in his first NHL game. … To get down there and to wear the Perreault jerseys was just a testament to all of them and how close a group they are.' Perreault wasn't wearing his Boston College number Wednesday, since forward Arthur Kaliyev, out for the season with an upper-body injury, has No. 34 for the Rangers. Instead he took the ice in No. 94 — the number that his father, Yanic, wore for much of a 14-year NHL career in the 1990s and 2000s. 'It was very special that he picked that number,' Yanic said. 'I think it looks good on him.' And the old jerseys looked good on his friends. Perreault, who called his Boston College teammates 'brothers for life' after signing his entry-level contract earlier this week, knew they were coming to the game, having received a heads-up text. Sophomore Will Vote said they even tried persuading Perreault to ask for the Eagles players to read the starting lineup in the Rangers dressing room before the game. 'That was a no-go,' Vote said with a laugh. Since the Bruins-Capitals game was in Boston, the entire Eagles team went. During the game, Brown heard several of his players plotting to get to New York. Seven Boston College players ended up making the trip: Minnetian, Vote, Joyce, Timmy Delay, Jacob Fowler, Will Traeger and Rangers prospect Drew Fortescue. Fortescue is from the New York area, so the group made a quick pregame stop at his family's house en route to the city. Advertisement Brady Berard, whose older brother, Brett, plays for the Rangers, was a notable omission from the crew. The younger Berard was at Leonard's debut and 'really wanted to' come to Perreault's, Minnetian said, but he had two academic tests on Thursday. Brady at least got to visit Madison Square Garden earlier in the year for Brett's debut, catching a last-minute flight from Boston and arriving shortly after puck drop. Alas, a second spontaneous trip wasn't in the cards this season. On the ice, Perreault showed off his vision and playmaking ability early in the Rangers' 5-4 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild. He deked Mats Zuccarello in the slot on his second shift, then tried to feed Alexis Lafrenière with a backdoor pass. A Wild defender managed to graze the puck with their stick, so Lafrenière couldn't get a shot off and fell to the ice reaching for it. Even if the play didn't result in a goal, Perreault said it helped him get more comfortable in the flow of the game. He nearly picked up his first point by feeding Jonny Brodzinski on a power play, but Brodzinski's shot hit the post. 'You can see his game and the way he thinks the game out there,' Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. 'I'm sure the next one and the one after that they'll be a little more natural for him as opposed to the first one, but I thought he played really well.' It wasn't a seamless debut; Perreault accidentally deflected a Brock Faber shot past Igor Shesterkin for a Wild goal. But, all in all, it was a good one, especially since the Rangers picked up two much-needed points in the wild-card race. One NHL scout who watched the game remarked that Perreault, who had three shots in 13:38 of ice time, makes offensive plays you can't teach. The 19-year-old's new teammates agreed. 'That caliber of player, there's not that many of them,' linemate Lafrenière said. Advertisement Perreault's buddies got to take in the game from the lower bowl, sitting in the row behind Perreault's family: father Yanic, mother July, siblings Lily and Jeremy. Yanic got a kick out of them yelling at Perreault to shoot the puck whenever he had possession. Many of the Boston College players had never been to Madison Square Garden before, so that added to the experience. 'It's pretty unreal,' said Delay as he looked around at the dining options on the concourse. 'You don't really see a TAO Sushi place at TD Garden, so it's a little bit different.' (Conte Forum at Boston College doesn't have sushi options either, though Vote chimed in that the school boasts the best hot dogs in college hockey.) Brown thought his players making such an effort to support both Leonard and Perreault 'speaks volumes' to the character of the now-NHLers. Before the Rangers-Wild game, the beaming Boston College players pulled their phones out to film Perreault's solo rookie lap. The in-arena camera put them on the video board. Perreault smiled and nudged the glass multiple times during warmups, and flipped his friends a puck as a souvenir. 'We'll keep it in our (dorm) room next year for sure,' Minnetian said. Perreault won't be there anymore. The symbol of a shared memory will have to do. (Top photo of Perreault with his pals: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
Reuters
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Penn State ends season with win at No. 12 Wisconsin
March 8 - D'Marco Dunn scored a career-best 25 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the floor and Penn State closed its season with a stunning 86-75 upset of No. 12 Wisconsin in Big Ten play Saturday afternoon at Madison, Wis. Yanic Konan Niederhauser produced 15 points, 11 rebounds and five blocked shots as Penn State (16-15, 6-14 Big Ten) snapped a 23-road game losing streak against the Badgers. The Nittany Lions' previous victory at Wisconsin was a 78-67 triumph on Jan. 26, 1995. Zach Hicks had 14 points and seven rebounds for Penn State, which didn't qualify for the upcoming Big Ten tournament. Nick Kern and Freddie Dilione V added 12 points apiece and Ace Baldwin Jr. had nine assists and three steals for the Nittany Lions. Steven Crowl and John Blackwell each scored 19 points for Wisconsin (23-8, 13-7), which blew a 13-point lead and missed a chance to clinch a double bye in the Big Ten tourney. Jon Tonje added 13 points and seven rebounds but was just 2 of 13 from the field for the Badgers. Kamari McGee had 11 points for Wisconsin. Penn State shot 56.4 percent from the field -- including 60 percent in the second half -- and made a stellar 11 of 19 3-point attempts. Wisconsin made 36.2 percent of its shots, including 10 of 31 from behind the arc. The Badgers shot just 28.6 percent from the field in the second half. Penn State trailed 40-27 late in the first half before scoring 18 of the next 23 points to tie the score at 45 on Dilione's trey early in the second half. The Nittany Lions took their first lead at 48-47 on Baldwin's three-point play with 16:34 left. The score was tied at 51 before Dunn's basket and two straight hoops by Kern gave Penn State a 57-51 lead with 11:18 remaining. The Badgers answered with a 9-2 run to take a 60-59 edge with 8:52 left on Blackwell's short basket. Penn State responded with a 10-2 push. Dunn capped it with a turnaround to give the Nittany Lions a 69-62 lead with 5:33 left. Blackwell scored five straight points for Wisconsin to cut its deficit to two. But Dunn drained a trey to start an 11-4 push as Penn State took an 80-71 lead with under a minute to play. Two free throws by Hicks pushed the lead to 11 with 18.9 seconds as Penn State closed it out. McGee scored 10 first-half points as Wisconsin held a 40-35 halftime advantage.
