UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – Two years ago, Kevin Montminy could be found leading the Penns Valley Rams to an outstanding 18-7 record on the hardwood during his senior season.
During Media Day for the Penn State men’s basketball team, Montminy was once again wearing the Blue & White, but this time it was as a member of the Nittany Lion men’s basketball team.
Before making his way to Happy Valley , Montminy was looked at by a number of colleges and universities, mostly at the Division II and Division III level. However, wanting to test the waters at the Division I level, Montminy made the short trip up the road from Spring Mills to State College to enter the Lion program as a walk-on.
“I was recruited by a lot of Division III schools and a couple of Division II schools, but Penn State was the only Division I program and they offered me the opportunity to come here as a walk-on and that wasn‘t until midway through my senior year,” Montminy said. “I was focused on D-3, but I was also considering the football route as well. I ended up getting this opportunity under coach (Ed) DeChellis and coach Chambers has been great about honoring that commitment. Right now, I couldn’t envision anything else so it has been a great experience for me thus far.”
After making his way to PSU, it didn’t take Montminy a long time to realize the difference from playing hoops in high school to that at the Division I collegiate level. Simply put, it was the physical nature of the game.
“The physical nature of the game at this level is a lot different, especially the speed of the game,” said Montminy. “I think my first summer here was my biggest transition and then the actual season time rolled around, I was getting a lot more comfortable with things like the foot work as well as the physicality and the quickness. Once I got that I felt pretty good so what I have to do is toughen up a little bit and get used to it a little more.”
As for his personal role to the success of the Lion program, Montminy was quick to put his finger on that aspect of his being a PSU cager.
“This year I am just going to do what coach (Chambers) asks me to do,” he said. “Whatever he wants me to do I will do it as hard as I can. My focus is going to be on helping make the team better to see where this season can take us.”
After wading through a disappointing 12-20 season one year ago, Montminy feels that this year’s squad is much better than that of last season.
“Tim (Frazier) is once again being a great leader and D. J. (Newbill) and Jermaine (Marshall) are stepping into leadership roles as well so I think we are coming in every single day just trying to get better,” said Montminy. “We had good chemistry last year, but this year, we have great chemistry in the locker room. This team is excited about continuing to work hard to improve and get better and better every day.”
As for having chosen to go to Penn State rather than a smaller school, Montminy feels that he made the right move and if he had to do it again, he wouldn’t do anything differently.
“I feel a hundred percent that I made the right move,” he said. “I am really happy with where I am and with what is going on.”
So what does Montminy see as his role for the 2012-13 Lions? “
This year I am still looking to work my butt off on the scout team to try and get the starters ready for whoever we are facing on any given day,” he said. “Whatever coach (Chambers) wants me to do, that is what I am going to do, whether that is playing in games or just playing in practice. I have complete faith in him and trust him so whatever he asks of me, that is what I’ll do.”
