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"He gained 20
pounds of muscle over the summer so he has worked extremely hard on his
body. He has to be a better rebounder for us, he has to stay out of foul
trouble and he needs to shoot a better percentage from the foul line.
That was one of his Achilles Heals last year. I think he's conscientious
of it and if he'll do those two things -- rebound and better free throw
shooting -- he'll make big strides for us this year."
--
Coach Donny Daniels
Babacar Camara (pronounced BAH-bah-kahr kah-MAHR-ah) made great
strides in every facet of his life last year, his first in the United
States and his first playing basketball at the NCAA Div. I level... He
will be asked to carry an even heavier load this season on the Titans'
front line, which does not possess significant depth... He has added at
least 20 pounds to his upper body to better prepare him for the physical
inside game... Babacar was the last recruit of Coach Donny Daniels' first
Titan class and easily the tallest... He had played organized basketball
for only three years but gamely applied himself to the task at hand and
gained valuable experience... Transferred to Cal State Fullerton after
one year at Dakar's Cheickantadiop (shek-AHN-tuh-dee-OPP) University,
which did not field a basketball team... Attended Yalla En High School
in Dakar which did not field a team... Played for Coach Babacar Sy with
the Giant Step Basketball Club in Dakar.
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CAREER HIGHS
Points
16- vs. Utah St., 2/2/01
at Cal Poly, 1/25/01
Rebounds
10- vs. Boise St., 1/31/01
Assists
3- vs. Boise St., 1/31/01
Blocked Shots
2- vs. Wyoming, 12/9/00
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CSF IN 2000-01: Babacar appeared in all 28 games and became a
starter at roughly the conclusion of the non-conference schedule, for
a total of 20 starts... Averaged 7.5 points and 4.4 assists... Has the
best field goal percentage (.488) of any returning Titan... Was team's
No. 2 rebounder at 4.4 caroms per game... Has excellent ball-handling
skills for a center and is capable of shooting from the perimeter, witness
his .364 percentage from behind the 3-point arc (made 4 of 11 tries)...
By comparison, the rest of the team shot a combined .304 from 3-point
land... Twice scored 16 points in a game -- at Cal Poly SLO on Jan. 25
and vs. Utah State on Feb. 2 ... Had a rebounding best of 10 vs. Boise
State.
PERSONAL: Born on Oct. 15, 1981, in Dakar, Senegal... Parents
are Cheick and Awa N'Diaye Camara of Dakar... Speaks four languages --
French, Arabic, his native tongue of "Wolof" and English...
Credits Coach Sy for teaching him that there is more to life than just
basketball... He came to Cal State Fullerton for the opportunity to play
Div. I basketball in the United States... Political science major whose
ambition is to work for the United Nations.
CAMARA QUOTE: "Every basketball player in my country thinks
about playing in the NCAA. Not many get the chance. There are good basketball
players in Senegal, but they don't have the support there to get better.
They don't have enough money to develop the programs. The good programs
are here."
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