Luc Mbah a Moute

Infobox NCAA Athlete
name = Luc Richard Mbah a Moute


caption =
college = UCLA
sport = Basketball
position = Forward
class = Junior
career_start = 2005
nickname =
team = Milwaukee Bucks
jersy =
height_ft = 6
height_in = 8
weight_lb = 230
nationality = CMR
birth_date = Birth date and age|1986|9|9|mf=y
birth_place = Yaounde
collage = UCLA
highschool = Montverde Academy, Montverde, Florida
former_school(s)=
awards = 2006 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year

Luc Richard Mbah a Mouté (born September 9, 1986 in Yaounde) is a 6' 8" (203 cm) Cameroonian basketball player who formerly played for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins in the Pacific Ten Conference of the NCAA. He is the twin brother of Emmanuel Bidias a Mouté, who plays basketball for UCSB. Mbah a Mouté is a prince in his native village of Bia Messe (near Yaounde) [ [http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/news/articles.asp?ID=35777 Daily Bruin article "Cameroon Calling"] Accessed July 20, 2006] , as he is a son of the elected village chief, Camille Mouté à Bidias. His father is a high-ranking government official, managing the National Employment Fund of Cameroon, a training and job-placement national agency.

Mbah a Moute gave up his eligibility to play college basketball at UCLA for his senior year to enter the 2008 NBA Draft, in which he was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round (overall pick #37). [cite web| url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/ncaa/04/18/mbah.a.moute.nba.ap/index.html |title=UCLA's Mbah a Moute the latest Bruin to enter NBA draft |date=2008-04-18 |publisher=Sports Illustrated |accessdate=2008-04-18] [ [http://uclabruins.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/061608aaa.html Luc Richard Mbah a Moute to Remain in NBA Draft] ]

College career

From Montverde Academy in Florida, Mbah a Mouté led the Pac-10 Champion Bruins in rebounding as a freshman. Mbah a Mouté led or tied for the lead for the Bruins in rebounding in 27 regular season games. In the NCAA tournament, Mbah a Mouté scored the winning layup at the end of a comeback win over Gonzaga in the Sweet 16. Mbah a Mouté also posted 17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 assist in a Final Four victory over LSU. For the year, Mbah a Mouté averaged 8.9 points and 8.1 rebounds.

He has become something of a cult phenomenon among the UCLA faithful. Along with fellow Cameroonian Alfred Aboya, the dynamic duo have sparked the "Cameroon Crazies" (a take-off of Duke's "Cameron Crazies" fans) section, along with an enormously popular t-shirt which reads "Moute Kicks Boute". [ [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/tourney06/2006-03-28-ucla_x.htm USA Today article about the Bruins which includes information about the Cameroon Crazies] Accessed July 20, 2006]

His mother, Goufane a Ziem Agnes Bertine, and his father, Camille Mouté à Bidias had never seen him play for UCLA, until they came from Cameroon to attend the Final Four of the 2008 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. [Diane Pucin and Mike Hiserman - [http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/ucla/la-sp-uclarep5apr05,1,6873567.story UCLA's Collison has had enough of 'One Shining Moment'] . Los Angeles Times, April 5, 2008] During the 2008 season, his team had a record of 35-4 and won their third-straight Pac-10 title and third-straight NCAA Final Four.

Mbah a Moute ended his UCLA career with a honorable mention All-Pac-10, honorable mention Pac-10 All-Defensive Team selection and a fifth place finish in scoring (8.8 ppg). He is ranked as the No. 15 rebounder with a total of 775 rebounds.

After 34 years, Mbah a Moute became the first player to start in three straight Final Fours at UCLA. Bill Walton, Jamaal Wilkes and Greg Lee (1972-74) were the last players at UCLA, and Andre Hutson and Charlie Bell of Michigan State (1999-2001) were the last ones to do so.

Awards and recognition

*Mbah a Mouté was named the Freshman of the Year in the Pacific Ten Conference, edging Arizona freshman Marcus Williams.

Notes

External links

* [http://uclabruins.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/mbahamoute_lucrichard00.html UCLA Player Bio]
* [http://www.bruinbasketballreport.com Bruin Basketball Report]