The big-time prospects at the top of the draft have rightfully captured the attention of the fans and the media; however, there are plenty of lower prospects who deserve to be recognized. One such prospect is Penn State big Yanic Konan Niederhauser. He had a career breakout year at Penn State this past season, showing himself as an athletic defensive center who can be a solid rotation player at the next level. Considering the need for bigs like him and his impressive play this season, Niederhauser will certainly draw interest in the draft. Let’s dive into an evaluation of Yanic Konan Niederhauser in this 2025 NBA Draft profile.
Yanic Konan Niederhauser 2025 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
Niederhauser initially started his college career at Northern Illinois, spending two years there. He didn’t play much in his rookie season but saw an expanded role as a starter his sophomore year. Niederhauser saw a jump in production and efficiency that year, taking a leap as a player. That season, he averaged 7.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks in 19.6 minutes per game. Furthermore, he shot 54.1% from the field and 61.0% from the line. For his junior year, Niederhauser transferred from Northern Illinois to Penn State, where he saw another huge jump in production as a starter for them. This past season for Penn State, Niederhauser averaged 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks in 25.1 minutes per game.
Strengths
The biggest thing that stands out for Niederhauser is his impressive athleticism as a seven-footer in shoes. He operates well as a rim-running lob target, where he can elevate above the competition for highlight dunks. Due to his ability to rim-run, Niederhauser is a great option as the screener in the pick-and-roll. Not only that, but Niederhauser is also an effective threat in transition and moves well without the ball. He just runs the floor well for a big and plays hard. Additionally, he has shown impressive flashes of taking opponents off the dribble in specific scenarios and playing in the post. In particular, Niederhauser has demonstrated some impressive footwork and pivots when posting up.
His athleticism also translates to defense. Specifically, his athleticism is most apparent when serving as a rim protector. He was a highly effective shot blocker for Penn State this season, blocking 2.3 shots per game. He knows how to utilize his 7-foot-3 wingspan to bother shots, defending both on and off the ball. Plus, Niederhauser has demonstrated a solid understanding of timing when blocking shots as well as knowing when to rotate.
Weaknesses
There is plenty to like about Niederhauser; however, he does have several areas of weakness in his game. One weakness is his complete inability to shoot the ball in any way. Specifically, Niederhauser is a complete non-threat outside of the paint. While he doesn’t necessarily need a jump shot given his overall play style, his lack of shooting limits his offensive impact. Niederhauser isn’t great at creating his own shot or operating as a post presence. He is a play-finisher for the most part and relies on others to create shots for him. Additionally, he isn’t a great playmaker either, averaging only 0.8 assists to 1.7 turnovers per game.
On defense, much of Niederhauser’s defensive concerns come from the fact that he lacks strength and quickness. He can be pushed aside by stronger and more physical players in the post despite being 242 pounds. That causes him to be out of position for rebounds, which he isn’t the best at getting. Against quicker guards, Niederhauser can struggle to defend in space. While he isn’t a slow player by any means, he is lacking in terms of lateral quickness. Also, Niederhauser doesn’t have the best feel for the game, either, finding himself out of position due to biting on fakes that lead to fouls or good looks for opponents.
NBA Comparison
One player that Niederhauser shares similarities with is current Lakers center Jaxson Hayes. Both are athletic seven-footers who utilize their physical tools to be effective play finishers and shot blockers. They both can be big-time lob targets, and neither has shooting in their arsenal. Also, while both are tall and athletic, they can struggle to defend against stronger and bulkier players in the paint.
2025 NBA Draft Projection
Mid-second-round pick.
Featured image: © Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
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