Quick chat with Brazil’s top 2008 NCAA graduate

[by Gustavo CARDOSO] - This week I caught up with Mr. Hatila Passos, a power forward at New Mexico State University. After one year of prep ball, two of JUCO, and two more at a NCAA D1 program, it seems Passos is off to the Old Continent. He recently signed with Kingstone-Ibbc, and from what sources mentioned, should head to the European market soon.

Although the Aggies from New Mexico State were far from being the team that they were under Reggie Theus in 06/07, Passos improved his numbers. In his junior season the 250 pound 6’9 power forward averaged 8.7 points and 6.1 boards a game, starting 30 of his 31 games.

This past season his numbers went up to 10.8 points, and 7.3 rebounds in 29 games (starting in 23), making him the top scorer and rebounder among the Brazilians who ended their NCAA ride in 2008 (Tavernari, only a sophomore at BYU, is the Brazilian NCAA MVP).

Let’s check what he had to say:

GC: Could you to give us a brief overview of your senior season. Your numbers have gone up, but the team ended up not living up to the expectations. What is your take on that?

HP: It was very hard in the beginning, because we had a lot of big changes and not enough time to teach the newcomers about the importance of this season to us.

GC: Do you think the departure of Coach Reggie Theus had something to do with that?

HP: I can’t say we lost the championship because Theus wasn’t the coach, but I admit it was a huge loss, having someone that played in so many important teams coaching us.

GC: How was playing with Herb Pope, one of the top freshmen prospects? Any knowledge that you guys passed on to him?

HP: To play with a guy like Pope was great, because he is the type of freshmen that you don’t need to teach much. He already has a very good understanding of the game. But we definitely had to stay on his heels because sometimes he thought he was playing against his high school opponents, where he could do whatever he wanted.

GC: What are you doing at the moment? Studying for finals?

HP: I am getting set to graduate. I have gone through many things in order to get here, so I have been looking forward into that in a while.

GC: What are you studying?

HP: Independent Studies, with minors in Spanish, and Linguistics.

GC: What about after school ends, are you heading to Europe?

HP: Right now I’m looking for opportunities in Europe, but I will work on my game so a year or a year and a half from now I can get back to the US and maybe play in the NBA.

GC: Do you think about coming back to Brazil?

HP: As far as Brazil goes, right now it is just to visit my parents and relatives.

GC: How is your schedule for this upcoming summer?

HP: It’s kind of busy since there will be some NBA camps and all that.

GC: Have you been following the news on the National Team? Are you expecting a draft to the Olympic Qualifiers?

HP: I would definitely enjoy being part on the National team, and maybe that will happen.