Lorenzo Mata
Encyclopedia
Lorenzo Mata-Real is an Mexican American
basketball
player. He was the center
for the UCLA Bruins men's basketball
team from 2004-2005 until 2007-2008, and was an important part of their Final Four runs in 2006, 07 and 08.
in his senior season. He led the South Gate Rams
to an 18-8 overall record, an unbeaten Eastern League mark and one playoff victory. In the L.A. City Sectional quarterfinal game, future UCLA teammate Josh Shipp
's Fairfax High School
team defeated South Gate 89-85. In his junior year he led South Gate to their first playoff victory in 11 years.
along with Jordan Farmar
, Josh Shipp, and Arron Afflalo
to attend UCLA. These four led UCLA to the Final Four
in back to back seasons (2005–2006, 2006–2007). As of the 2006-2007 season Mata had a career average of 4.6 points and 4.4 rebounds a game. His stats improved each year at UCLA, scoring 6.7 points and pulling down 5.5 rebounds while shooting 67% from the floor during his junior year. In his senior season he added his mother's last name (Real) to his jersey.
, Mata tried out for a team in the Japanese pro league. He then signed onto the Los Angeles Lakers
summer league team in order to make a name for himself among NBA scouts.
Mata has been playing in the Mexican professional league
(LNBP) for the Halcones de Xalapa and is currently playing for the Mexican National Team
.
Mexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He was the center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
for the UCLA Bruins men's basketball
UCLA Bruins men's basketball
The UCLA Bruins men's basketball program, established in 1920, owns a record 11 Division I NCAA championships. UCLA teams coached by John Wooden won 10 national titles in 12 seasons from 1964 to 1975, including 7 straight from 1967 to 1973. UCLA went undefeated a record 4 times, in 1964, 1967,...
team from 2004-2005 until 2007-2008, and was an important part of their Final Four runs in 2006, 07 and 08.
High school
Mata averaged 25.0 points and 5.0 reboundsRebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
in his senior season. He led the South Gate Rams
South Gate High School
South Gate High School is located on Firestone Boulevard, South Gate, California, United States. The school, which serves grades 9 through 12, is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District...
to an 18-8 overall record, an unbeaten Eastern League mark and one playoff victory. In the L.A. City Sectional quarterfinal game, future UCLA teammate Josh Shipp
Josh Shipp (basketball)
Joshua Ian Shipp is an American basketball player for Galatasaray in the Turkish Basketball League. He previously played for Bornova Belediye...
's Fairfax High School
Fairfax High School (Los Angeles)
Fairfax High School is a Los Angeles Unified School District high school located in Los Angeles, USA, near the border of West Hollywood in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles...
team defeated South Gate 89-85. In his junior year he led South Gate to their first playoff victory in 11 years.
UCLA career
Lorenzo was recruited by Ben HowlandBen Howland
Ben Howland is an American college head coach of men's basketball.He has been the head coach of the University of California, Los Angeles since 2003, and in 2008 signed an extension of his contract to run through 2015. Aggressive man-to-man defense is the trademark of Ben Howland-coached...
along with Jordan Farmar
Jordan Farmar
Jordan Robert Farmar is an American professional basketball point guard for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Basketball Super League and Euroleague. He is also under contract with the New Jersey Nets, and is expected to return to the team after the 2011 NBA lockout ends.In high school, he was the...
, Josh Shipp, and Arron Afflalo
Arron Afflalo
Arron Agustin Afflalo is an American professional basketball player, currently with the Denver Nuggets of the NBA. He completed a three-year career at University of California, Los Angeles in the Pacific-10 Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association as the starting shooting...
to attend UCLA. These four led UCLA to the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
in back to back seasons (2005–2006, 2006–2007). As of the 2006-2007 season Mata had a career average of 4.6 points and 4.4 rebounds a game. His stats improved each year at UCLA, scoring 6.7 points and pulling down 5.5 rebounds while shooting 67% from the floor during his junior year. In his senior season he added his mother's last name (Real) to his jersey.
Professional career
After going undrafted in the 2008 NBA draftNBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
, Mata tried out for a team in the Japanese pro league. He then signed onto the Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
summer league team in order to make a name for himself among NBA scouts.
Mata has been playing in the Mexican professional league
Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional
The Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional is the top professional basketball league in Mexico. The league was founded in 2000 with 11 teams, expanding to 24 as of 2008...
(LNBP) for the Halcones de Xalapa and is currently playing for the Mexican National Team
Mexico national basketball team
The Mexico national basketball team is the side that represents Mexico in men's international basketball competitions. The governing body of the team is the Asociación Deportiva Mexicana de Baloncesto – abbrev...
.