Gateway grad John Paul Kromka piling up honors in final season at Pitt-Johnstown
Feb. 5—John Paul Kromka is in the twilight of his collegiate basketball career, but he is making the most of the time he has left.
The Gateway graduate and senior forward on the Pitt-Johnstown men's basketball team again is a leading force for the Mountain Cats, who, after a spirited Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference victory at Cal (Pa.) on Jan. 28, were 15-5 overall and 11-3 in conference play.
"I want to enjoy everything in the game as long as I can, but I also realize it won't last forever," said Kromka, who led the team in both scoring (16.7 points per game) and rebounds (7.6 rpg) through 19 games played.
"I am trying to take it all in and live in the moment. It is weird to think that one day there won't be a practice to go to every day."
Kromka, who had already been honored four times this season as the PSAC West Defensive Player of the Week, earned his first PSAC West Athlete of the Week selection Jan. 30 after averaging 20.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.7 blocks over three UPJ games.
He also shot 73.3% (22 for 30) from the field and 77.3% (17 of 22) from the free-throw line.
Kromka scored a game-high 17 points, pulled down a game-best 12 rebounds, and was 7 for 7 from the free throw line in a 73-61 win over Mercyhurst.
He added 13 points and nine rebounds as the Mountain Cats topped Edinboro, 77-63.
Kromka then capped the week in a big way with one of the best games of his career.
He scored a career-high 31 points against Cal on 11 of 13 shooting and added a 9-of-13 effort from the free-throw line. He also recorded a game-best 12 rebounds as UPJ rallied for a 76-72 victory.
"I think what I have been able to do is a reflection on what we've tried to do as a team," Kromka said.
"Over the past couple of years, I really haven't changed the way I play. I know there are several times where I know I have to step up and get a bucket for my team or grab a rebound. It's all about what I can do to help our team win. That's the most important thing. Playing with a lot of the same guys for four years gives me a lot of confidence. I want them to trust me in the same way I trust them to make the plays we need."
Kromka said he, and the team overall, are playing with a lot of confidence
entering the stretch run of the PSAC regular-season.
The PSAC Tournament, with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament going to the winner, begins Feb. 27.
"I like the way we've been playing, and that goes back to the team chemistry we've built," Kromka said.
"Now is the time for us to step up and raise the intensity. We are able to feed off each other's energy so well."
Along with playing with five other seniors as the team core, Kromka said he's enjoying the opportunity to play this season with younger brother, Will, who is in his freshman season with the Mountain Cats.
When JP was a senior at Gateway, Will was in eighth grade.
"I was lucky my freshman year at Gateway to play with my brother Jim, who was a senior," JP Kromka said.
"He took me under his wing that year. This is Will's first chance to play with a sibling, and I am very grateful for this opportunity. I am especially going to be grateful for it several years down the road when I am able to look back and cherish the time we got to spend together and the memories we made. Will is having a really nice first season, and I think he will do great things (at UPJ) before he's done."
Longtime Mountain Cats coach Bob Rukavina said he isn't surprised to see JP Kromka excel in his final season at UPJ.
"He is such an unselfish player," Rukavina said.
"He leads the nation in field goal percentage at almost 72%. We often tell him that we need him to get us over the hump in games. He does whatever he needs to do to help the team and he could care less about his personal statistics. He always talks about how the all-star honors and other accolades are nice, but he says that it wouldn't be possible without his teammates. That kind of relationship is what really drives this team."
JP Kromka said he had entertained thoughts of continuing in basketball professionally after his time at UPJ has concluded, but he most likely will settle into his life's work.
"Giving basketball a break, it will be a change of pace," said Kromka, who had the opportunity the past couple of summers to play with a who's who of locally-connected talent in the Pittsburgh Dream Pro-Am League.
"But the game has given me so much. I am excited for however many games we have left. I am happy to have experienced it all."
Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Michael at 724-226-4665, mlove@triblive.com or via Twitter .
