On Wednesday, Penn State landed the first commit of the Pat Chambers era in Akosa Maduegbunam. Maduegbunam is a 6’3″ guard/forward from the Boston area who chose Penn State over offers from schools like Temple and Drexel.

After only speaking with Akosa for about 10 minutes, I can tell you that this kid is very hard-working, well-spoken, and outgoing. He spoke very highly of Pat Chambers and also said, “I like when the student section gets excited, that gets me hype.” I’m sure Nittany Nation will take a liking to him quickly.

One thing is certain, which is that, for once, the future of Penn State basketball is starting to look awfully bright. See for yourself and check out the full Q&A with Maduegbunam below.

RB: What made Coach Chambers stand out from the rest of the coaches that recruited you?

AM: “He’s a great guy more than basketball coach. He’s definitely one of the better recruiters out there. We’ve built a bond that can’t be broken. I feel like I could almost expect him to be present at my wedding.”

RB: Did you watch any Penn State basketball games last season?

AM: “Funny thing is, I always wanted the Big East Network, but somehow I did have the Big Ten Network, so I actually got to see the team a bit. Towards tourney time, Penn State wasn’t even really recruiting me but I was particularly attracted to Talor Battle. I love small guys with big hearts like Talor and Kemba Walker.”

RB: Other than basketball, what else do attracted you to Penn State?

AM: “Academics are first and foremost. At Penn State, they are off the charts. The Penn State name says a lot. I wanted to be a part of a big community, not just a basketball community. I was also attracted to the town (State College) itself. Overall, it’s just a great environment.”

RB: What are the best facets of your game?

AM: “Coach Chambers’ style fits the way I play. It’s very faced-pace, catch and shoot, coming off screens, and running the floor. I also love defending the hell out of the ball. I will continue working on my ball-handling as well as my strength and conditioning.”

RB: What do you want to tell the Penn State basketball fans out there?

AM: “I want you guys there, not just for some games, but every game. It takes a lot of commitment to be a part of a great program, so I’d hope that the fans put in that commitment as well. I’m just a fun and outgoing guy and I love meeting people. This should be fun!”