4-star center Hutchins-Everett decommits from Penn State

The Penn State basketball program took a big hit Sunday night when 4-star center Elijah Hutchins-Everett announced that he’s decommitting from the Nittany Lions.

After long thought and consideration, I have decided to decommit from Penn State. I will be reopening my recruitment.

— Elijah H. Everett (@ElijahHEverett8) November 15, 2020

Hutchins-Everett is a 6-foot-9, 225-pound center from New Jersey who will play this season at Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut. He’s rated as the No. 31 center recruit in the nation by Rivals, and he initially chose PSU over the likes of Villanova, Syracuse, Seton Hall, Rutgers, Minnesota and DePaul.

Here’s what he told Rivals when he committed to PSU:

“I felt the family environment from them. They are great at player development and can help me on and off the court and also help me reach my goal,” Hutchins-Everett told Rivals.com. “They always check on me and my family at all times during the pandemic and I feel at home with Penn State.”

Hutchins-Everett’s verbal commitment came on Aug. 10, two months before Patrick Chambers’ resignation.

With so much uncertainty in the Penn State basketball program after Chambers’ resignation, this decommitment from such a high-profile recruit should not be surprising.

Losing such a promising and high-profile recruit will make it an even bigger challenge for the next head coach to be able to get the program back on strong footing.

Jim Ferry will serve as the Lions’ interim head coach this season.