Playing for one of the country’s top programs, Mena is a skilled, high IQ big man who understands how to impact the game. He has soft touch in the paint, can stretch the floor out to the three-point line, and is an excellent passer who reads the floor and plays within the flow of the offense. Mena also shows a strong feel for angles and positioning, allowing him to rebound his area effectively.

Mena played a major role for one of the nation’s top teams this season. The junior center has a strong feel for the game, shows touch in the paint, and has the ability to stretch the floor out to the three-point line. He rebounds his area consistently and impacts winning on both ends. An All-WCAC selection, Mena proved to be a key piece for the Panthers.

Matthew Mena Matthew Mena 6'8" | C St Paul Vi | 2027 State VA is an intriguing prospect. The 6-foot-7 center is a junior playing for one of the country’s premier programs. Mena offers floor spacing as a shooting big but also can get in the post to take advantage of mismatches. He doesn’t sky high for rebounds but has good accuracy with backtaps to shooters and seals offensive players outside for defensive rebounds. Menas frame allows him to naturally clog up driving lanes as well as hold his ground as a post defender. Mena is also very coordinated and showed good hands.

Matthew continues to be a matchup nightmare for opposing big men who must come out and contest the Mattew’s ability to face and stick the 3 consistently. And the beginning of this game was the same beginning. He benefitted from Jordan Smith timely passing and opposing big man lives him all alone and he calmy knocked the first points of the game with a 20-foot jumper. Matthew might not be most athletic prospect. But he understands how to play with position and strength. Mena finish the game with 10 points.

The junior center is a unique frontcourt player with a strong understanding of the game. He can stretch the floor with legitimate shooting range beyond the arc and is an effective passer who keeps the offense moving. He rebounds his area consistently and plays with good positional awareness. His combination of skill and feel makes him a valuable and versatile piece in the frontcourt.

11p 6r 2a 1b 5/8 FG 1/3 3P 0/2 FT vs LuHi

-Mena continues to improve his ability to move without the ball to flash to the rim from the corner to provide a passing target for the slew of slashing guards that PVI has on the floor. His ability to finish in tight gaps around the paint will be huge, and was big in this win over LuHi with 3 backdoor layups at key junctures in the game. Mena hit a huge corner 3 to make it a 2-possession game late after hitting a pick n pop 18-footer in the 3Q. While he has improved at the defensive end of the floor and on the offensive glass, that continued development will be crucial for a PVI team that needs his size and skillset to compete in national games.

Mena came into this season expected to play a huge role considering PVI’s lack of size and depth in the frontcourt. Not only was he expected to battle inside with the array of 6-foot-10+ prospects that have been on their schedule thus far, but contributions on the offensive end would be key in order to demand honesty out of the opposing team’s defense. So far, Mena’s outside shooting has what’s been the catalyst and the manner in which he’s knocking them down in big time moments have carried even more weight. Whether it was to cap off a PVI run and stick the fork a win or ignite his group as the opposition stormed back into a game, Mena seemed to answer the call for head coach Glenn Farello. His 17 points on just eight shots in the semifinal matchup against Principia (Mo.) was a big reason why the Panther found themselves in the title game last night.

7p 5r vs Carroll

-I love the duality of Mena’s game as a prospect. A burly forward with a soft touch that allows him to score from all 3 levels, he has fit into his new role with PVI nicely as a big that can set screens, knock down shots out to 25 feet, rebound the basketball, serve as a capable finishing target around the rim, and deter shots around the basket. Mena got it going early with a C+S wing 3

It’s easy to see the steady improvement from Mena. In addition to his game continuing to expand, his body also looks better with each viewing. Mena moves nicely for his size and utilizes his length well to disrupt opponents defensively. He competes on the glass, positions himself to finish around the basket, and runs the floor effectively in transition. Mena is a useful defensive anchor with solid timing as a shot-blocker.