Mezie Uzochukwu Class: Sophomore Hometown: Greensboro, N.C. High School: Northeast Guilford Height / Weight: 6-5 / 220 Position: Wing Major: Business Administration

Is expected to improve on a strong freshman campaign turned in a year ago... showed steely nerves in sinking the game-winning free throws at SMU... played beyond the typical freshman level... should again see significant minutes and battle for a starting spot on the floor... a natural wing player, he possesses the ability to play the power forward spot, and did so last year with success.

2007-08: Had an outstanding freshman season for the Spartans... made a name for himself after hitting two free throws with under a second to play to give Upstate a 58-56 win at SMU, the program's first over a Division I opponent... saw action in all 30 games... started 15 times... averaged 6.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game... raised those averages to 7.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game during A-Sun games... also collected 37 assists and 20 steals... ranked second on the team with 11 blocked shots... ranked third on the team with 49 offensive rebounds... reached double figures in scoring nine times... recorded two double-doubles on the year, the only two times he pulled down double digit rebounds... had a double-double at Duquesne with 10 points and 11 rebounds (Dec. 30)... also tallied a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards in the 79-58 win at Campbell (Feb. 21)... had back-to-back double figure games with 12 and 13 points against Brevard (Dec. 6) and Bluefield (Dec. 15)... finished with double figures in four straight games against Duquesne (10, Dec. 30), Iowa State (10, Jan. 2), ETSU (11, Jan. 5) and Gardner-Webb (14, Jan. 10)... had 14 points at Lipscomb (Jan. 17)... totaled 10 points in the win over Mercer (Feb. 3)... also a standout in the classroom... named to the A-Sun All-Academic team... named Upstate's co-Freshman Student-Athlete of the Year

High School: A four-year letterman at Northeast Guilford High School... averaged 17.5 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 blocks per game for his career... averaged 20.1 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.3 blocks per game as a senior... a Second Team All-State selection as a senior... named the Triad 3A Conference Player of the Year as a senior... selected to play in the East-West All-Star Game... led the East to the victory and was named the game's Most Valuable Player... also a standout student... a member of the Beta Club... an Honor Roll selection throughout his high school career... earned an Academic Letter... graduated with a 4.25 GPA.

Personal: Born on Aug. 3, 1989 in Greensboro, N.C... son of Dr. Godfrey and Mary Uzochukwu... has three sisters, Mollie, Delia, and Uzoma... his parents are both in education... his parents are originally from Nigeria... a business administration major... hobbies include watching college football and playing video games... likes to eat chicken alfredo... favorite movie is "Remember the Titans"... likes to watch "106th and Park" on TV... favorite actor is Denzel Washington... likes listening to T.I... favorite season is winter... admires his parents the most... favorite quote is "You do what you have to do so that you can do what you want to do."