WAC Power Courting Pena; Academics Will Be Key
Kelvin Pena, the talented 6-4, 192 pound shooting/combo guard from Southeastern C.C. in West Burlington, Ia., has seen Hawaii enter his recruiting scenario this fall.
JUCO Junction spoke with SCC Head Coach Joe O'Brien this week, and he said that Hawaii has been this fall to look at Pena.
Advertisement
Last spring, the Fighting Rainbows signed Pena's Southeastern teammate, 6-4 wing Jake Sottos.
Whether or not Hawaii or other Division I programs are able to sign Pena will be largely dependent on his academic progress in the classroom.
"By Christmas, we should have a good feel if he is in a position to graduate," O'Brien said. "His lackluster freshman year academically is behind him."
Pena returned to Southeastern this summer to earn some credits, but the fall semester will dictate whether or not Pena will be able to go the Division I route.
"Kelvin wants to play college basketball," O'Brien said. "He's enrolled in a heavy fall class load that could put him in a position to do that."
A native of the Dominican Republic, Pena often had interpreters speak on his behalf during postgame press conferences at the NJCAA Tournament last March.
Pena averaged 10.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists last season for SCC, which finished 37-1 overall and claimed the 2003 NJCAA Title.
A very athletic wing who can play both the two and the one positions, Pena can hurt defenses with both his slashing and shooting. He shot 46 percent from the floor, 41 percent beyond the arc and 82 percent from the foul line on a deep and balanced club in 2002-2003.
JUCO Junction will keep an eye on Pena's situation, so keep it here for the top coverage of JC hoop recruiting on the net.