Two Roaring Lions fare well at FIBA combine, advance to next round - Bronder and McKenna invited to Las Vegas event

Lemont Furnace, Pa - Two 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 partciipants in the first round of a FIBA combine at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ April 25th and 26th.

"New Jersey was certainly a reality check regarding the skill sets in which I need to improve," said McKenna, a resident of Pittsburgh and a Central Catholic graduate, adding, "The experience was great and the build-up was nerve-wracking leading up to the event."  He averaged 24 points and 10 rebounds per game as a senior and was named the Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference's (PSUAC) Newcomer of the Year for the 2013-14 season.  McKenna was was awarded PSUAC Player of the Year and United States Collegiate Athletic Association All-American for the 2014-15 basketball season.

Bronder, from Jefferson Hills, Pa., averaged 15 points and nine rebounds as a senior at Fayette.  He was named to the PSUAC's All-Conference team after both his junior and senior seasons.  

Bronder played his high school basketball at Thomas Jefferson High School.  When asked about his FIBA experience, Bronder replied "It's pretty exciting to be playing against some of these guys who went to major and mid-major programs.  It's an honor to be invited to Las Vegas, and hopefully all of the hard work we put in every will pay off."

The two Fayette student-athletes will head to the Cambridge Recreation Center in Las Vegas for the final round of combines July 11th and 12th.  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 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 the countries and controls the appointment of international officiating.  

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 final FIBA combine means to this program at the Eberly Campus.  "It's extremely exciting to coach guys who have such a 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.  They certainly have the work ethic to be successful."

This accomplishment by two of his graduating players is something in which he takes pride - but not the credit.  John commented, "Having assistants like Jajuan (Davis) and Mike (Perieff) really helps these guys develop skill, strenght, and agility.  They're the best in the business at what they do."