Wayne Portalatin Class: Sophomore Hometown: Allentown, PA High School: The Patterson School [N.C.] Height / Weight: 6-10 / 250 Position: Center Experience: 1L

2007-08 (FRESHMAN): Scored 34 points, pulled down 44 rebounds and blocked five shots in 239 minutes (8.2 avg.) this season ... shot 52 percent from the field ... produced two points, one rebound, one assist and one steal in eight minutes against Arkansas-Pine Bluff ... played five minutes versus Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, pulling down one rebound ... three rebounds and two blocks in 19 minutes at Texas A&M ... two points in six minutes against Texas Southern ... two points (2-for-2 FTs) and two boards in 16 minutes versus New Mexico State ... led the Miners with five rebounds in only eight minutes of court time before fouling out at New Mexico State ... snagged one rebound in nine minutes of action against Southeastern Louisiana ... tallied 10 points (4-for-7 FGs, 2-for-3 FTs) for his first career double-figure scoring game at Texas Southern ... also contributed seven rebounds in 16 minutes versus the Tigers ... five points (1-for-1 FGs, 3-for-4 FTs) and a block in 15 minutes at Texas Tech ... one rebound in seven minutes versus Rice ... shot 1-for-2 from the floor and 1-for-2 from the line, finishing with three points in 11 minutes against Tulsa ... made 3-of-3 shots and scored six points (all in the first half) at Tulsa ... added four rebounds in 10 minutes of action versus the Golden Hurricane ... made his first career start against East Carolina and posted season-highs for rebounds (nine) and minutes (27).

PRIOR TO UTEP: Listed as a top-200 prep school recruit by HOOP SCOOP Online ... played his senior year at The Patterson School in Patterson, N.C., where he was coached by Ryan Freeburgh ... averaged 25 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, 4.5 blocks and two steals as a senior, shooting 61 percent from the field and 80 percent from the line ... career-highs in high school were 35 points, 18 rebounds and eight blocked shots ... previously played at Sacred Heart High School in Waterbury, Conn., and Maine Central institute ... nominated for the McDonald's All-America team in 2006.

PERSONAL: Full name is Wayne W. Portalatin ... nickname is "Snookie" ... parents are Jesus and Debra Ann Portalatin ... father is a three-time national champion cyclist ... has one brother ... born 6/24/87 (Fort Bragg, N.C.).