Ed Cota

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Eduardo Enrique Cota (born May 19, 1976 in Los Angeles, California) is an American professional basketball player. The 6' 0", 200-lb. point guard currently plays for Hapoel Jerusalem in Israel.

Contents 1 Collegiate career 2 Professional career 3 Personal 4 References 5 Notes

[edit] Collegiate career

Cota is probably best known to American audiences for his role as point guard for the University of North Carolina from 1996-2000. At UNC, Cota led the Tar Heels to three Final Fours in his four years as a starter. During the 1997-1998 season, Cota was a member of new coach Bill Guthridge's successful "Six Starters" rotation with Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter, Shammond Williams, Ademola Okulaja, and Makhtar Ndiaye.

Cota garnered many accolades during his college career. He was named the 1997 ACC Rookie of the Year and a 1997 Freshman All-America. Cota was the leading vote-getter on the 1997 All-ACC Freshman Team. He earned 2nd-Team All-Conference honors three years in a row, as a sophomore (1998), junior (1999) and senior (2000). ^[1] As a sophomore, he broke the ACC record for most assists in a single season. He was named a 1999 AP All-America Team Honorable Mention. He earned three NCAA All-Regional Team selections as a senior while leading UNC to another Final Four. By the time his college career concluded, he had become the first player in NCAA basketball history to score 1,000 points, and have 1,000 assists and 500 rebounds in a career. Additionally, he finished with the third highest assist total in NCAA history.

[edit] Professional career

After graduating from North Carolina, Cota was not drafted by the NBA. His lack of height (6' 0") was cited as a major impediment to success at that level. Instead, he was drafted by the Gary Steelheads of the minor league Continental Basketball Association, where he spent the 2000-2001 season. That season Cota lead the league in 3-point shooting with a 48.5% mark.

After that season, Cota left the CBA and began what would become a very successful basketball career in Europe. He signed with the Belgian pro team Telindus BC Oostende for the 2001-2002 season. They went on to win the 2001-2002 Belgian National Championship. Cota joined Zalgiris Kaunas, a Euroleague team in Lithuania, for the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 seasons. Cota's team won the Lithuanian National Championship both season. ^[2] Cota also played in the 2004 Lithuanian All-Star Game.

Cota joined Dynamo St. Petersburg, a member of the Russian Basketball Super League that competes as a member of FIBA Europe, in 2004-2005. It was the club's first year of existence. The Dynamo went undefeated in the FIBA Europe League that season and won the championship. ^[3] Cota played in the 2005 FIBA Europe League All-Star Game.

After his stint in St. Petersburg, Cota returned to Lithuania and Zalgiris Kaunas to start the 2005-2006 season, but moved to Spain to play for FC Barcelona before the season ended. ^[4]

Despite his success overseas, Cota continues to work toward the goal of playing in the NBA. Over the years, he has played on the NBA Summer League squads of the Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana Pacers, and Washington Wizards.

Cota also competes internationally as a member of the Panama national basketball team (his parents are from Panama and he enjoys dual citizenship status). In this capacity, he has been to the Olympics and the 2006 FIBA World Championship tournament.

Cota signed with Israeli side Hapoel Jerusalem for the 2006-7 season.

[edit] Personal

• In the off-season, Cota resides with his fiancée in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
• Cota majored in African Studies at UNC.
• His favorite basketball players growing up included Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd, and Kevin Johnson, which would seem natural, given his propensity for passing the ball.
• He was a member of the United States Junior National Select Team as a high school player.
• Ed was born on the same day as NBA star Kevin Garnett.

[edit] References

• Cota's page at UNC Athletics 1
• A fan-authored bio 2
• Cota's bio at the Euroleague website [http://www.eurobasket.com/LTUplayer.asp?PlayerID=1820

[edit] Notes