On Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, North Penn seniors Mason Nadeau and Kadar Namey were recognized at a special news conference for signing letters of intent to play baseball at the collegiate level. To view photos of the event, please visit the Photo Gallery.
“Kadar and Mason both have been a huge part of what our program has been able to do over the past few years,” coach Kevin Manero said. “Last year, one of our guys that went to La Salle, Jared Melone, said at our state championship banquet that if you took one player off of our team last year, we probably wouldn’t have done what we did. I 100 percent agree with that.
“Whatever roles Kadar and Mason were playing at any point over the course of the last few seasons, every role is important, and that’s something they’re going to have to embrace and learn as freshmen on a very competitive college baseball front as well.
“They both bring to the table a set of tools that, in some cases, are very unteachable. Kadar is a very big, strong student-athlete, and that’s something you can’t teach. Obviously, a Division One school is going to look at that and say, ‘We’re going to turn this into someone who’s going to be very productive for us.’
“If Mason ever had to run down the hallway because he was late to class, he probably wouldn’t be late for class because he runs like a deer. You can’t teach speed. Speed kills, and there are a lot of things you can do as an outfielder, a hitter and a base runner. They both bring tools to a table that a good coaching staff at the college level is going to love, and we’re certainly going to love as they continue their careers here as well.”
Mason Nadeau – Penn State University (Baseball)
Major: Business
Final list of colleges: Penn State, United States Air Force Academy, Campbell
Reasons for choosing Penn State: “I chose Penn State foremost because I’m getting a world class education, and I really liked the family atmosphere and the proximity to my home.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate baseball? “Playing college baseball has been a dream of mine since I started playing baseball. The whole recruiting process really started this past summer when I started getting in contact with a lot of coaches.”
Coach Kevin Manero says: “Mason has really developed in a North Penn uniform over the last three years. He started for us in the 2013 state final, and two years later did it again. It wasn’t a smooth road for him. He was batting .500 his sophomore year when he sustained a season ending injury. He wouldn’t play another live rep until the following spring, and I’d be hard pressed to find a player more eager and determined to get back on the field than he was.
“Many coaches will say that when they care more than the players it’s time to hang it up. I am lucky to be seeing the opposite. Coming off our state run last year, Mason could not wait for our morning lifting workouts to begin again this offseason, and his excitement to put the NP uniform back on after his injury was palpable. When it comes to being motivated to work hard to be a productive D-1 player, I have no concerns whatsoever about the time and effort Mason will put in as soon as he gets to Happy Valley.”
About Mason:
Favorite food: Ribs
Favorite movie: D3: The Mighty Ducks
Favorite music: EDM
Kadar Namey – Saint Joseph’s University (Baseball)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: St. Joe’s, Bethune-Cookman, Coastal Carolina
Reasons for choosing St. Joe’s: “I chose St. Joe’s because of how they ran things and how the baseball team just really felt like a family.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate baseball? “Sophomore year I sat down with my family, my trainer and my hitting coach, and they told me if I really wanted to play in college that I would have to drop football and basketball. I decided to do that and buckled down and got the opportunity to play in college.”
Coach Kevin Manero says: “Kadar has many physical gifts, and there is no doubt he has the body and raw strength to project out perhaps even beyond the Division 1 College level. You cannot teach size and strength, so it is no surprise that a D-1 school would like him.
“I think an important quality for any athlete is knowing how to win. Kadar has had the experience of being on two state championship teams in 2013 and 2015, and I think that will serve him well going forward in baseball.”
About Kadar:
Favorite food: Chicken Parmesan
- Log in to post comments
