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Steven Ruggiero reportedly decommited from Penn State

Ruggiero is keeping his options open. Penn State joins a growing list of schools losing high-end recruits this month.

By Nathan Wells
Matt Christians

A player from the US National Team Development Program is changing commitments for the second time in less than a week.

Steven Ruggiero has decommitted from Penn State, Darian Somers of The Daily Collegian reports.

The 6'3", 200 lbs defenseman has seven assists in 23 games with the US Under-18 team. Although there is no next step - Ruggiero, from Kings Park, New York, was drafted by the Ottawa 67s in the seventh round of the 2013 OHL Draft - he is keeping his options open. That still includes Penn State, which without Ruggiero lose a member of its 2015-16 freshman class.

"I spoke to Steven recently and he did indeed decommit from Penn State," USNDT Spokesman Jake Wesolek said. "He's keeping his options open moving forward but not ruling out Penn State by any means."

Ruggiero committed to Penn State in January of this year, part of a week when the Nittany Lions picked up several other commitments.

Ruggiero joins US Under-18 teammate Matthew Tkachuk, who decommitted from Notre Dame last week. The nearly 18 year-old will be eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft. NHL Central Scouting listed Ruggiero as a "C"rating in its preliminary rankings. He's one of six USNTDP blue liners on the list.