A pair of standout basketball players from Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, will soon travel to Las Vegas for further evaluation by scouts for the International Federation of Basketball (FIBA). Roaring Lions senior forward Jacob Bronder and combo guard Matt McKenna were two of only seven selected from a group of 70 participants in the first round of a FIBA combine at Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, on April 25 and 26.
Combines are comparable to “mini-camps,” in which players compete for spots on professional teams. In the case of FIBA, scouts evaluate the talent, physical development and the mentality of basketball players vying for a spot on an international professional team.
FIBA governs international competition in basketball. The organization, which is based in Switzerland, defines the international rules of basketball and specifies the equipment and facilities to be used. The international governing body of FIBA also regulates the transfer of athletes across countries and controls the appointment of international officiating.
The Fayette players will head to the Cambridge Recreation Center in Las Vegas for the final round of FIBA combines July 11 and 12.
Commenting on the first round of combines, McKenna said, “New Jersey was certainly a reality check regarding the skill sets in which I need to improve. The experience was great and the build-up was nerve-wracking leading up to the event.”
McKenna averaged 25 points and 14 rebounds per game as a senior and was named Penn State University Athletic Conference’s Newcomer of the Year for the 2013-14 season, PSUAC Player of the Year and U.S. Collegiate Athletic Association All-American for the 2014-15 basketball season.
Bronder, of Jefferson Hills, averaged 15 points and nine rebounds as a senior at Fayette. He was named to the PSUAC All-Conference Team after both his junior and senior seasons.
Bronder, who played his high school basketball at Thomas Jefferson High School, commented on his FIBA experience. “It’s pretty exciting to be playing against some of these guys who went to major and mid-major programs,” he said. “It’s an honor to be invited to Las Vegas, and hopefully all of the hard work we put in every day will pay off.”
Penn State Fayette head men’s basketball coach Mookie John is thrilled for his two players and is proud of what their invitation to the FIBA means for his sport at The Eberly Campus. “It’s extremely exciting to coach guys who have such drive to continue playing basketball at a professional level,” said John, who noted, “And for the first time in our school’s history, we’re having guys getting called back to next-level combines.”
This accomplishment by two of his graduating players is something in which he takes pride — but not the credit, John commented, “Having assistant coaches like Jajuan Davis and Mike Perieff really helps these guys develop skill, strength and agility. They’re the best in the business at what they do.”