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Page address: https://web.mnsu.edu/sports/hoopsclub/news/html/2007/defining_atila.html

Defining Atila

A•ti•la (ATCH-uh-luh) n. [see: MSU Center] 1. transfer from Northern Iowa 2. native of Brazil 3. Mavericks' most fearsome big man 4. more than meets the eye.

by Dax Larson

Issue date: 1/25/07 Section: Mens Sports

If you have been to a Minnesota State men's basketball game this season, you may have noticed a 6-10, 240-pound specimen running the floor and posting up on offensive. What you may not know is No. 50 Atila (ATCH-uh-luh) Santos is from Salvador, Brazil. Santos is a junior transfer from Division I Northern Iowa where he got limited playing time and little experience. Now with the No. 5-ranked Mavericks, Santos has flourished as the starting center. He is dominating opponents on both ends of the floor because of his size and sheer athletic ability - ability not a lot of North Central Conference centers have.

"He is one guy on this basketball team that can bring us to the level we want to play because of his size, athleticism and his ability around the basket," said head coach Matt Margenthaler. "No one in Division II really has a guy capable of doing the things he can do."

"Coming from Division I he didn't have a big head," said senior Tony Thomason. "He expected to come in here and work his ass off. We accepted him and he accepted us. We all gelled quickly."

The amazing thing about Santos is that he has only been playing basketball since the age of 16. Santos is outplaying his opponents and to be able to be such a dominate force is amazing considering most college basketball players in the United States have been playing since birth. Some are raised to play basketball and that is all they do. Santos on the other hand grew up in Brazil, a soccer-crazed nation. Santos played soccer growing up, but quickly realized soccer is not a sport for a 6-10 person.

"He is a combination of size, strength and athleticism," said associate head coach Mike Schott. "It's rare to find someone who can bench over 300 pounds, run the floor and make free throws."

Santos started playing club basketball while in high school. He played for Centro de Estudos Supletivos Othon Barroso de Carvalho Macae in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Santos's coach on the club team played college basketball in the United States and had connections. His coach lined him up with Greg McDermott from Northern Iowa and Santos was off to America. At Northern Iowa, Santos got a taste of basketball in America.

"It is a lot faster and more physical," Santos said. "I wanted the opportunity for better basketball and education."

So how does a guy from Brazil fit into the Mankato community and into the men's basketball team? Easy. When asked how Santos was off the court, seniors Thomason, Luke Anderson and Paris Kyles all smiled before answering the question. Each agreed Santos is a great guy to have around. Margenthaler said he fits in at community events and works well with kids. When Santos first came to visit he stayed with Anderson and senior Terrence Wynder.

"I've enjoyed being around him since he visited," Anderson said. "He's a jokester, funny, a good dude to be around."

Last season, the Mavericks graduated three big men and had a need for someone to come in and perform. MSU needed a big guy and Santos wanted to play. Santos fits in well with this team because he is a cross between two players the Mavericks lost at the end of last season, Chris Whitfield and Rueben Trotter. Whitfield was a true shot-blocker and defender that left Minnesota State as the all-time shot-blocker in school history. Trotter was a banger on the boards and could score from the post. Santos may not be as talented a shot blocker like Whitfield, but he does lead the team in blocked shots. Santos is leading the team in rebounds and is averaging double-digits in scoring, which is hard to do on a team of shooters.

"He is a mix between Whitfield and Rueben. He has the ability to score like Rueben and get up and block a few shots," Thomason said. "He is not bad on the defensive end at all. He can do a little bit of everything."

"To be confident to go down to the post it takes a lot of pressure off the guards," Anderson said. "They can't double us anymore. It has been a load off our shoulders."

So far this season Santos is averaging 21.9 minutes, 10.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and leads the team in blocks with 18. He plans on enjoying basketball and finishing his education and then deciding whether to go back to Brazil.

Dax Larson is a Reporter staff writer