While the Penn men's basketball team may currently be in the thick of an Ivy League title race, it has made a significant stride toward future Ivy championships by securing the commitment of 6-foot-3 guard Michael Kach.
The Carmel, N.Y., native, currently a fifth-year senior at the Winchendon School in Winchendon, Mass., is the third recruit of the Class of 2008 by coach Fran Dunphy's staff.
"Mike is not the regular, run-of-the-mill Ivy League white kid who sits around and shoots threes," Winchendon basketball coach Mike Byrnes said. "He's a superior athlete."
Kach went to Winchendon from Carmel High School, seeking Division I basketball attention.
Winchendon features a slew of NCAA basketball prospects, including guard Robert McKiver, -- who has received interest from Cincinnati, Georgetown, Providence and Temple -- and Jesus Verdejo, a former Temple commitment.
Kach received full scholarship offers from South Alabama and East Carolina, but both his family and coach encouraged him to look into playing in the Ivy League.
He received significant attention from Penn, Brown, Columbia and Yale, ultimately choosing to play for the Quakers after attending their Nov. 24 game against Drexel at the Palestra.
"He loved the Palestra and the campus," Byrnes said.
The lefty with a 40-inch vertical leap was recognized by his coach for his three-point shooting and effort on the floor, especially on defense. But above all, Kach's greatest strength is his athleticism.
"It's almost comical," Byrnes said.
According to his high school coach, Kach will have to improve his ball-handling skills at the collegiate level, especially when under defensive pressure.
Due to rigorous academic requirements for recruitment to the Ivy League, Kach was forced to raise his SAT score, originally a 1070, in order to play for the Quakers.
"He's one of the hardest working kids I've ever met," Kach's coach said. "He bought every SAT prep book he could buy."
The guard's hard work paid off, as he raised his score significantly and is currently ranked fourth in his senior class.
"Michael is the epitome of the NCAA student-athlete," Byrnes said.
After receiving a suitable financial aid estimate from the University and assurance from the school that Winchendon met all academic requirements, Kach's parents encouraged their son to attend.
He received his application on Tuesday, Byrnes said.
"He's ectatic, his family is excited and the people in the Palestra will be excited next year when they see him on the court," Byrnes said.
Byrnes indicated that Penn assistant coach David Duke was first impressed by Kach after the fifth-year senior scored 18 points against then the nation's top prep school, Laurinburg Institute. In that game, he hit four three-pointers in the second half, as his Green Wave came from behind to win, 105-92.
The Penn assistant returned for several more of Winchendon's games, as did head coach Fran Dunphy.
Due to Ivy League recruiting rules, the Penn coaches cannot comment on Kach until he is formally accepted by the University.
Recruiting service Hoop Scoop rates the guard as the 95th best fifth-year senior in the nation.
Kach is not the only guard in Penn's recruiting class for next year. From Lawrenceville Prep in Lawrenceville, N.J., 6-2 shooting guard David Whitehurst will be joining him.
Joe Gill, a 6-6 small forward from Germantown Academy in Germantown, Pa., has also committed to the Quakers.
