Penn State suddenly might not be out of the running for one of the top prospects in the 2026 recruiting class just yet. While Dylan Mingo’s pledge to North Carolina initially seemed like a major blow for the Nittany Lions, UNC’s struggles and loss in the NCAA Tournament have certainly put Hubert Davis in a weird spot.
According to Christopher Sheppard of Nittany Lions Wire, the situation surrounding Mingo has become more intriguing following North Carolina’s NCAA Tournament loss. The Tar Heels’ loss, which included giving up a 19-point lead to VCU in the Round of 64, has caused some to question Davis and his future at UNC.
“A little over a month ago, Dylan Mingo broke Penn State fans' hearts after announcing he would be signing with the North Carolina Tar Heels. The No. 5 prospect in the 2026 class, Mingo would have been one of the highest-rated signings in Penn State program history.
“At the time, it was seen as a huge loss for Mike Rhoades amid a potential pairing of two brothers who could have changed the trajectory of Penn State basketball. Now, however, after a disappointing loss in the Round of 64, allowing a 19-point comeback from the VCU Rams, the Tar Heels have now lost a bit of their luster, leading some to believe that there may be hope yet that Dylan Mingo could still be in play for the Nittany Lions,” he wrote.
While there’s no indication that Mingo has officially reconsidered his signing, losing his coach could change that.
For Penn State, the appeal doesn’t seem to be there, though. Under Mike Rhoades, the program has been horrible, probably the worst in the Big Ten. Even if there’s some appeal around his brother, Kayden Mingo, Penn State was so bad last season that it shouldn’t matter much.
That said, playing with his brother is playing with his brother, and there’s certainly something to be said about that. I don’t know how it’ll play out, but Davis getting fired would change a lot. Having the brothers together would at least give us some hope at Penn State.