Sport: Men's Basketball
Birthdate: February 16, 1980
Major: Education
Position: Forward
Year: Sophomore
Height: 6'2"
Hometown/High School: Bronx, NY/Cardinal Hayes
Athletic Highlight: In eighth grade averaging 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists per game.

Every successful basketball team needs someone like Rafael Diaz. His play isn't always pretty, but it gets results. "He's the hardest working guy on the team," said Assistant Coach Peter Quinn, "and he's a lunatic out on the court - he's willing to do whatever it takes to win."
Though a relatively small 6-foot-2, Diaz is able to grab rebounds over much taller defenders just by being scrappy. "He's willing to dive out of bounds to get a ball and put his body on the line," Quinn added. "He's a real ball hawk."
While Diaz won't feature prominently in most box scores, coaches predict he'll be a fan favorite nonetheless because of his aggressive, blue-collar style of play. A product of prestigious Cardinal Hayes Prep in New York, Diaz can be a player who pumps up his team through his guts and desire, Quinn said.

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