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SUN DEVIL DATA: After having to sit the entire 2006-2007 season after transferring from Duke, where he did not play much in 2005-2006, Eric took some time to get adjusted but ended up playing solid minutes in the second half of Pac-10 play as he has two seasons remaining. Posted three games of double digit points, including a 12-point effort at Oregon State that included 5-of-6 field goal shooting the final day of the regular season that clinched .500 record in Pac-10 play. Also played well in first round of NIT with eight points and 10 boards in 18 minutes vs. Alabama State on March 18. Played in all 34 games and shot 61.5 percent (56-of-91) from the field. A 2005 McDonald's All-American, as Eric and James Harden are the fourth and fifth McDonald's All-Americans in Sun Devil history, joining Jamal Faulkner (1989), Byron Scott (1979) and Chris Sandle (1984). The only McDonald's All-American in Delaware prep history. Born in London and arrived at ASU in the second summer session of classes in 2006. His workouts on gameday in 2006-2007 after shoot-a-rounds with then associate head coach and now Drake head coach Mark Phelps looked like a boxer's workout, with medicine balls, treadmill, sprints, dunks, free throws and three-pointers with little rest. Solid student athlete who is majoring in Global Studies and speaks Twi (African language) fluently, so fluently he impressed people in Indiana (see note below). Toured Croatia and France in summer of 2007. Also claims to speak a little Chinese.
JUST YOUR NORMAL EVERYDAY STUDENT WHO IS FLUENT IN TWI: Eric passed his Twi language exam in October of 2007 and has completely fulfilled the language requirement (two years) for his major of Global Studies. Sound simple? Hardly. When learning of the language requirement in his major, Eric was told by the Department of Language at ASU that if he could find a professor who was willing to test him in Twi - an African language - they would accept it, because he was already fluent in it. Eric contacted Indiana University, who happened to have a Twi professor on staff. After a few months of preparation, he took the exam in September, it was mailed to IU where the written part was graded and they notified the Department of Language here that he had passed.
MICKEY D ALL-AMERICANS: Eric Boateng and teammate James Harden are two of nine current Pac-10 players who are McDonald's All-Americans. Others on the list are UCLA's James Keefe (2006), Jrue Holiday (2008) and Malcolm Lee (2008), Arizona's Chase Budinger (2006), Oregon's Michael Dunigan (2008), USC's Demar DeRozan (2008) and Washington's Jon Brockman (2005).
2005-06 (DUKE): Member of Duke squad that went 32-4 and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, won the ACC regular season title with a 14-2 record and won the 2006 ACC Tournament...played in 20 games for the Blue Devils and saw action in six ACC regular season games, two ACC tournament games and two NCAA Tournament games...was 6-of-7 (.857) from the field...had season-best six points and five boards in season opener vs. Seton Hall on Nov. 16 in 13 minutes.
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year letterman at the St. Andrew's School in Middletown, Del....coached by Bobby Rue...averaged 19.6 points, 13.6 rebounds and 4.6 blocks in career...finished with six rebounds and an assist in 10 minutes in All-America game...selected to play in the 2005 Jordan Classic and finished with three points, four rebounds, two assists, three blocks and two steals in 14 minutes...selected to the World Select team for 2005 Nike Hoops Summit, but did not participate...Gatorade State Player of the Year in Delaware (2005)...A 2005 Parade All-America fourth-team pick....An all-state first team pick in 2005 and an all-state second team pick in 2004...as a senior (2004-05), he averaged 21.0 points, 16.0 rebounds, 5.0 blocked shots and 2.0 assists per game...ed St. Andrew's to a 12-8 record and the second round of the state tournament in 2004-05...as a junior (2003-04), he averaged 20.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 4.9 blocks per game...led St. Andrew's to a 16-7 record...averaged 18.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game in sophomore year (2002-03).
ETC.: Full name is Eric Yamoah Boateng...born Nov. 20, 1985, in London...son of Florence Boateng...sister's name is Rebecca...former chapel assistant and lecturer at St. Andrew's School...won the St. Andrew's cross award as a senior...gave lectures on the European lifestyle and a junior and senior...winner of Malcom Forbes award as a junior...enjoys soccer and ping pong.
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