Pena is a fantastic piece for Central Catholic and has continuously gotten better all year. Against Springfield Central, the 6-foot-3 wing/forward scored from inside the paint as well as beyond the three point line. On the inside, he showcased really solid athleticism and body control in the air; on the outside, he continued to impress me with the quickness and fluidity of his shooting stroke. In the overtime period, it was Pena who scored the first 5 points and got Central Catholic off to a good start—in the finals, they’ll need him if they want to compete with Bishop Feehan’s offense.

Central Catholic probably doesn’t win yesterday’s championship game without the contributions from Pena. The sophomore was more effective as a shooter than I’ve seen him before—he was flying off screens and using great footwork to get himself set before knocking down shots—but he also did his fair share of work in the paint and on the boards. He guarded a couple of upperclassmen forwards quite well, and his skillset is improving by the game. Pena is going to be ready to take the torch from Lopez by the time next season rolls around if I had to guess. There’s a lot to be unlocked in his offensive game, and more opportunities will show that.

Pena is a super intriguing long-term prospect who’s able to compete comfortably at the highest level of MIAA hoops as a sophomore. The 6-foot-3 forward does a really good job finishing with patience, touch, and strength, and he even had a really electric up-and-under lefty reverse that surprised me during Tuesday’s championship matchup. He’s a really solid athlete who should only continue to get stronger and more athletic as he gets older. That being said, it’s impressive that he’s able to play at this level with this amount of pressure right now. Bright future ahead for Pena.