Wojciech Myrda
Encyclopedia
Wojciech "Big Vo" Myrda (born August 3, 1979) is a retired Polish
professional basketball player. At tall, he played the center
position. He was born in Poland but graduated from high school in the United States
. Myrda attended Ouachita Parish High School in Monroe, Louisiana
for his senior
year in 1997–98.
Myrda is best known for his collegiate career at the University of Louisiana at Monroe
between 1998–99
and 2001–02
. During his four year career, Myrda blocked a then-NCAA Division I record 535 shots, which was 43 more than the next closest player. He has since been passed by Jarvis Varnado
, whose 564 career blocks are now the most ever. In 2001–02, he led the nation in blocks per game, and in his final three seasons he finished in the top five for that statistical category. Myrda set a single game school record when he recorded 13 blocks against Texas–San Antonio
on January 17, 2002.
After college he went unselected and unsigned by any National Basketball Association
(NBA) teams. He spent the next four years playing professionally in Poland, Russia
and Slovakia
, but injuries hampered his play for most of his career.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
professional basketball player. At tall, he played 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...
position. He was born in Poland but graduated from high school in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Myrda attended Ouachita Parish High School in Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe, Louisiana
Monroe is a city in and the parish seat of Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 53,107, making it the eighth largest city in Louisiana. A July 1, 2007, United States Census Bureau estimate placed the population at 51,208, but 51,636...
for his senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
year in 1997–98.
Myrda is best known for his collegiate career at the University of Louisiana at Monroe
University of Louisiana at Monroe
The University of Louisiana at Monroe is a coeducational public university in Monroe, Louisiana and part of the University of Louisiana System.-History:...
between 1998–99
1998–99 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 1998–99 NCAA Division I men's basketball season concluded in the 64-team 1999 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament whose finals were held at Tropicana Field in . The Connecticut Huskies earned their first national championship by defeating the Duke Blue Devils 77–74 on March 29, 1999...
and 2001–02
2001–02 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2001–02 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 9, 2001, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 1, 2002 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia...
. During his four year career, Myrda blocked a then-NCAA Division I record 535 shots, which was 43 more than the next closest player. He has since been passed by Jarvis Varnado
Jarvis Varnado
Jarvis Varnado is an American basketball player for Hapoel Jerusalem B.C. of the Israeli Basketball Super League. Varnado was selected by the Miami Heat in the 2010 NBA Draft....
, whose 564 career blocks are now the most ever. In 2001–02, he led the nation in blocks per game, and in his final three seasons he finished in the top five for that statistical category. Myrda set a single game school record when he recorded 13 blocks against Texas–San Antonio
UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball
The UTSA Roadrunners men's basketball team represents the University of Texas at San Antonio in San Antonio, Texas. Originally competing as an NCAA independent in 1981, the Roadrunners joined the Atlantic Sun Conference in 1986, and eventually joined the Southland Conference in 1992, where it is a...
on January 17, 2002.
After college he went unselected and unsigned by any National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
(NBA) teams. He spent the next four years playing professionally in Poland, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, but injuries hampered his play for most of his career.