For Immediate Release: Friday, 14 November 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director (956) 381-2240

BRONCS SIGN MCDONALD'S ALL-AMERICA NOMINEE ZACHARY TRADER

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American's men's basketball team has signed its first recruit for the fall.

Zachary Trader, a 6-7 forward from LaPorte, Texas and LaPorte High School, has signed with the Broncs. Trader will enter UTPA in the fall of 2004 as a freshman, with four years of eligibility.

One of 300 student-athletes who were nominated for the McDonald's All-America Team, Trader averaged 17 points and six rebounds per game as a junior. He made 47 per cent of his shots from the field and 70 per cent from the free throw line.

Trader earned first team All-District honors last season, and was named his team's Most Valuable Player. He has served as a varsity team captain for three years.

"We're very excited about adding Zach to our squad," said UTPA Head Coach Bob Hoffman. "Not only is he a quality player, but he is also a quality person. His mental toughness on the court and in the classroom will make him the kind of student-athlete who will help us build our program up to a high level."

"Zachary is a very talented player," said UIPA Assistant Coach Spencer Wright, who recruited Trader. "He is very sound fundamentally. He shoots, passes, defends and rebounds well. He is extremely knowledgeable about the game, and possesses all the intangibles for his team to be successful. Two of the Texas high school recruiting services have him ranked as one of the top 50 players in the state, and he's one of only 300 players who were nominated as a McDonald's All-American. He is also a great student who will take care of his business in the classroom. He is the kind of player who can come here and help us immediately."

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