IV Post

Zoppa is the last of the Matadors' four men's basketball sophomores from this year's Region I Championship team for formally commit to a four-year institution, following the lead of teammates Edvaldo Lima (Cal-State Fullerton), Kenny Dawkins (Lamar University) and Matt Gonzales (Cal Baptist).The announcement comes a little over a month after Zoppa and his sophomore teammates participated in AWC Commencement activities on campus. 

Zoppa's work ethic and steady, focused demeanor became infectious for Kelly Green's Matadors shortly after the Brazilian arrived in Yuma in August of 2005.  The native of Sorocaba, Brazil learned the ropes of American basketball quickly, and-by the midpoint of his freshman season-moved into the starting lineup.  With Zoppa's steadying presence in the lineup, the 2005-06 Matadors caught fire toward the end of the season, marching through Eastern Arizona and heavily favored Cochise to their 2^nd straight Region I Championship.  Zoppa started 22 of the Matadors' 35 games in '05-'06, including all three games at the NJCAA Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.  Zoppa-whose heady play earned him the nickname "The Glue" - finished the season as the Matadors' 2^nd-best assist man (76 assists total) and 3-point shooter (47 made), and he was the team's best free throw shooter. 

Zoppa returned to campus in the summer of 2006 with heavy expectations on his back, since it was widely agreed that he and Dawkins made up the conference's best backcourt tandem.  Once again, Vitor's consistency showed through all season long, and he continually broke down defenses as the Matadors stayed in the NJCAA Top 10 all season long, and for the third straight time, blazed through the Region I Tournament on their way to the title before falling to the College of Southern Idaho in the District Finals.  Zoppa seemed to save his best performances for the big games, including strong performances on the road against Cochise and Eastern Arizona (including sinking the game-winning 3-pointer with just a half-minute left in the game in Thatcher February 17^th).  Zoppa started every game for the Mats in 2006-07, and finished the season with an 11.1 points per game average, which was 3^rd-best on the team, and was good enough to put him in the ACCAC Top 25 in scoring at the end of the season.  For his efforts, Zoppa was named as a 2^nd Team selection on both the All-ACCAC and All-Region I teams after his sophomore season.  "Vitor was our most versatile player and best perimeter defender," remarked AWC Head Men's Basketball Coach Kelly Green.  "He and Kenny were a great compliment to one another because both were able to move over and run the team or play the off guard position.  He was able to do whatever we needed and made many big plays in 2 years.  His infectious hustle and constant moving on the floor made him a very difficult person for opponents to guard."

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Zoppa now heads to The Centennial State, and to an NCAA Division II program that is truly on the rise after an emotional but historic 2006-07 season.  The Grizzlies started the campaign losing seven of their first eight games, but quickly righted the ship to win 12 of their last 16, qualify for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Shootout's Championship game for the first time in Adams State history, and reach the first round of the NCAA Division II Tournament.  Zoppa will not only work to keep that level of success going, but he'll also help usher in a new era of Adams State men's basketball, since Mark Murdock will embark on his first season as Grizzlies' head coach next season. "Vitor is a big guard with very good range," said Murdock today about Zoppa.  "He puts it on the floor well and is a lock down defender.  He also had a 2-to-1 assist to turnover ratio last year which should make him very productive in our system."

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