Photo courtesy of Jon Lopez/Nike.
By David Cordova
If you look at the PSA Cardinals program, one thing you can notice on them is that they are known for developing big men. Their forwards and centers are built solid and are always ready to compete when they’re on the floor. And they take no prisoners.
Franck Kepnang is no exception. The 6-foot-10 junior center and native of Cameroon out of Westtown School in Westtown, Pennsylvania is a force in the paint area and is no stranger to blocking shots, securing rebounds and dominating around the rim. At the present time, he is rated as the No. 20 recruit in the Class of 2021 by ESPN.
Whenever he’s in the game, he is definitely a matchup nightmare for the opposition. He is definitely a physical specimen, with long arms and a strong build, he is bound to imidate the person assigned to guard him, due to the fact that he is tough to contain.
Earlier this summer at the NBPA Top 100 Camp at the John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, Virginia, he performed very well despite a nagging injury. “Outside of it, it’s been pretty good, I like the classroom time, like when we talk about issues and how to prepare for the future. The story of Mr. Walton, I actually took some notes of the speech and wrote them down so I can remember it in the future.”
During the summer, he plays for the PSA (Pro Scholars Athletics) Cardinals, a Bronx-based program that plays on the Nike EYBL circuit. He averaged 5.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and two blocks per game, and helped lead his team to a berth in the Nike Peach Jam in North Augusta, South Carolina.
When asked about playing for PSA, he replied, “Playing for the PSA Cardinals, I’m really glad [to play for them], because they’re one of the best in the country, and it’s just a legacy, and every player in the program feels like they’re [leaving] a legacy. It’s kind of a weight on your shoulders, like you have to play harder, and like work harder every single time, and it’s just been a great time.”
When asked about playing at an attending an elite academic institution such as Westtown, he replied, “The school experience, Westtown is a Quaker school, so it was new for me to discover [things such as] religion, [but] it was really like a good experience, and I love the classes, they’re really hard classes, like the workload and stuff, so they’re really good.”
When asked if there is anybody he models his game after, he replied, “Right now, my goal is to be better than the man before me, I’m just trying to be one of the best or better than before.”
Now that he is entering his junior season, the attention on him will increase as his talent will be seen by many eyes. He current holds offers from Indiana, St. John’s, Wake Forest, UCLA, Georgia, Stanford, Syracuse, UConn, Washington and more.
But as loud as his game is, his maturity speaks louder. Off the court, he is an A-student and speaks multiple languages. Without the game of basketball, the kid from the country of Cameroon will be a productive member of society and will do many things in life. On the court, he is sure to be a pro someday, with his talent and work ethic.
When asked about what to expect from him this season at Westtown, he replied, “Play hard every single game.”
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