UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — First-year Nittany Lion head coach Patrick Chambers continued to add long, athletic talent to his Penn State program Wednesday, when 6-3, 185-pound guard Akosa Maduegbunam (Boston, Mass.) signed a National Letter of Intent on the first day of the NCAA late signing period.
Maduegbunam joins early period signee Brandon Taylor (Tabernacle, N.J.), a 6-8 235-pound forward from Trenton Catholic High School (N.J.), in the Lions’ 2012 signing class. Taylor, a career 1,000-point scorer, was recently named the Times of Trenton Player of the Year after averaging 15.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in leading the Iron Mikes to the NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public B championship game for the second straight year.
"I’m looking forward to Akosa joining our Penn State family," Chambers said. "He is a great young man, and his ability to make long range shots and his athleticism will make an immediate impact in our program."
One of the top high school players in Massachusetts, Maduegbunam (pronounced Mah-do-way-boo-nam) finished his prep career at The Winchendon School (Winchendon, Mass.) after spending two seasons at Charlestown High School and his freshman year at Cushing Academy. Described as a "physically imposing prospect on the wing" with a strong build, good speed and who "plays above the rim with ease" be ESPN.com,
Maduegbunam averaged 18 points, six rebounds and four assists per game for Winchendon last season, according to Winchendon coach Matthew Quinn, including a 27-point performance in his debut vs. Harvard. He earned NEPSAC AAA honorable mention honors last year playing in the highly competitive league.
"Akosa Maduegbunam is a tremendous athlete who constantly works to improve his game," Quinn said. " He was a pleasure to coach, bought into our system, and made major strides in his knowledge and feel for the game. More importantly, Akosa has an infectious personality and is a pleasure to have on campus."
Prior to transferring to Winchendon, Maduegbunam averaged 22.3 points, eight rebounds, three assists and two steals a game as a junior at Charlestown High School leading his team to a 22-3 record, a Boston City League championship and a berth in the Division 1 North quarterfinals. Maduegbunam was named MVP of the City League Tournament. In his two seasons with the Townies, he averaged 20.5 points, seven rebounds, three assists and was a two-time All-City selection. He was named to ESPNBoston’s inaugural MIAA All-State Team after leading the Townies to their first Boston City League title since 2006.
"Somewhere along the line of life, I’ll stop playing basketball, and Coach Chambers is a guy who would be there at my wedding," Maduegbunam told ESPN.com when he announced his verbal commitment to Penn State last June. "He is more than just a college coach. It’s more than just basketball for him. It’s about character and personality. He found that in me, and I found that in him."