Senior forward looking to help KU win second PSAC East title

by Jimmy Johnson

Majoring in physics at a university is tough. Finishing your physics homework and heading off to basketball practice is even tougher.

But Kutztown University senior Kevin Hafera has become a pro at it.

“Pretty much,” he said, with a laugh.

Hafera, a 6-foot-7 forward from York, Pa., has played a crucial role on a team that has taken the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference by storm, winning eight of their first 10 Eastern Division games. KU is currently a game out of first place and every piece has been important to this puzzle.

Hafera has played in 23 of the Golden Bears’ 24 games this season, averaging 13.5 minutes per game. He contributes with a few baskets here and there, but he isn’t in the game to score; KU coach Bernie Driscoll has Hafera in there to defend and rebound.

“Coach has always said my role is to come in a get rebounds and play defense,” Hafera said. “And that’s why I’ve always strived to do that for him. I’m comfortable with that position coming off the bench. Any way I can help the team, I will do it.”

And he’s been there for KU.

With the physical style of play that the Golden Bears play, Hafera often enters the game when players are in foul trouble. And when preseason All-PSAC East selection Sean McKeon left the team, Hafera found himself with a golden opportunity.

“Kevin had an opportunity and we needed him to step up,” Driscoll said. “Kevin saw that as an opportunity for himself and really took advantage of it, to a point where he’s one of our better big men this year.”

This season has a bit of a familiar taste for Hafera. As a senior at Red Lion High School, he helped lead his team to the PIAA Class AAAA quarterfinals as the District 3 runner-up.

“That was a great year,” he said. “We played in the Giant Center a couple times, which was really special, and we played at the Sovereign Center in Reading. We played at a lot of nice places, so I’m hoping this year, we go a lot farther and play in places that we never played before just like my senior high school year.”

With the players competing alongside Hafera, including two former PSAC East Rookies of the Year in Dave Ben (2005-06) and Stephen Dennis (2006-07), it’s quite possible that he will get that chance to play in new arenas this season.

“They’re great guys,” Hafera said of his teammates. “Every one of them is really fun to watch. I learn a lot from them in practice. They give me little pointers, because I’m not an offensive player as the stats show, but they help me out and give me pointers.”

Hafera’s best game offensively came against West Chester on Jan. 19 this season when he posted eight points in a 70-54 win. He had another six points and five boards against Clarion and five points and six boards against Mansfield.

Every little contribution from him has helped KU to its current standing in the PSAC East.

“I’m very fortunate as a coach to have him this year,” Driscoll said. “I think he’s enjoying it. I think he’s having fun playing, I think he’s having fun being part of the team.”

Coach Driscoll is right.

“It’s been great,” Hafera said. “We struggled a bit in the beginning, but being 8-2 in the PSAC really means a lot. We haven’t been in first place for a long time.”

It’s been 20 years since KU won its only PSAC East title in basketball, and with Cheyney left on the Golden Bears’ schedule, securing their second title will be tough.

But don’t tell that to Hafera. He views his physics homework as tough. Helping his team win their final two PSAC East games to have a chance at clinching the division is nothing this pro can’t handle.