Joe Latas - 51 |
 |
|
Joe Latas has earned the opportunity he will get on the court this season. After all, the once big and lumbering center has dropped 40 pounds over the last three years through a rigorous regiment that included extra workouts, special exercises and healthy eating. In the process, he totally redefined his body type, allowing him to improve on his quickness and agility so that he will better fit into the up-tempo and pressure oriented Gary Waters' system. A traditional back to the basket center, he has always had the offensive skills to finish plays inside while his defensive play has picked up as well.
2009-10 Season
• Saw action in 24 games as a sophomore, averaging 0.7 points a game.
• Scored season-high six points - all during a decisive period late in the second half - and had three rebounds and two blocks in Horizon League tournament win over Loyola (3/2/10).
• Had a career high five rebounds at Milwaukee (2/18/10).
• Grabbed two rebounds in seven minutes at Loyola (2/6/10)
• Missed the Wilmington & Sam Houston State games with a sore neck.
• Went three-for-four rom the field for a season-high six points vs. Wilberforce (12/12/09).
CSU Career
• Reserve at center who played in 16 games.
• Averaged 1.4 points a game, shooting .450 from the field (9-20).
• Grabbed a career-high three rebounds vs. Notre Dame College (12/27/08).
• Tallied five points vs. La Roche, going 2-for-4 from the field (12/20/08).
• Scored a career-high eight points - on four-for-seven shooting - in win over Saint Leo (11/24/08), adding a career best two rebounds in eight minutes.
• Scored two points against Valparaiso, West Virginia and Marist.
• Toured Europe with an all-star team in August, 2009, averaging six points and five rebounds a game.
• Sat out the 2007-08 season as a redshirt in order to allow him to recover from off-season surgery that followed up a broken ankle that he suffered during the middle of his senior year.
• Also used the season to improve on his physical endurance while making gains in the weight room.
High School
• Third team all-district choice as a senior at St. Peter Chanel High, playing for coach Bernie Tarr.
• Played in the first nine games of his senior year before being sidelined with a broken ankle.
• Before the injury, he averaged 22.0 points, 14.5 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per game, shooting .593 from the field.
• Earned first team all-league honors, receiving the team's most outstanding player award as a senior.
• Was ranked the No. 2 center in the state by PrepSpotlight.com while being tabbed as one of the top 12 players in the state by Rick Bolus' Recruiting.
• Averaged 11.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.1 blocks as a junior.
• Played his first two seasons at St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio.
Personal
Born Jan. 1, 1989 in North Olmsted, Ohio...son of Dan and Penny Latas...has one younger brother, Andrew (16)...his mother is a CSU graduate...has completed the coursework for degrees in communication and religious studies and is working towards a third degree in philosophy.
