Overview
Yanic Niederhauser played the first two years of his college career at Northern Illinois but didn’t really thrive. He made a huge leap in the 2024-25 season, though, and he enjoyed an excellent campaign after moving to Penn State. He was named an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention and ranked 12th in the nation in blocks with 2.3 per game, leading the Big Ten in that category. His junior year was a career-best season on both ends of the court, as he also averaged 12.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game as a junior, ranking second and first at Penn State, respectively. College aside, Niederhauser also has plenty of international experience and has represented Switzerland at various youth levels.
Analysis
When at his best and fully engaged, Niederhauser is a player who can wreak havoc on both ends of the court with his athleticism and instincts. Both traits play well on both ends of the court, and he profiles as a player who could be a solid rim finisher with elite defensive ability, particularly as a shot-blocker. However, his fundamentals aren’t always there, and at times, he struggled with the pace of the college ranks, which might be a slight concern at the next level. Plus, there’s a scenario where he might have a gear or two more left to unlock as a shooter. He has a soft touch near the rim and a passable mid-range shooting. The percentages aren’t pretty, but the mechanics suggest he might improve those numbers with time — as long as he puts the work in. His handles and passing ability are two things that haven’t progressed as expected, either, meaning he’s not expected to operate as a passing outlet in the post or as a passing alternative in pick-and-roll situations.
Projection
It’s hard to project the kind of player Niederhauser can be, as there are key areas in which he needs to improve to reach his full potential. He can be a DeAndre Jordan-type player on the defensive end in terms of instincts and athleticism. Still, if he unlocks a gear or two on offense, he has the upside to be an elite two-way center who could average nearly a double-double at his prime. If he doesn’t, his career at the next level might be limited to being a situational backup big man who’d see most of his minutes due to his defensive prowess.
— Profile by RotoWire.com