'Bambu' moves up

The men's basketball pipeline that begins in Brazil, stops at Arizona Western College and extends on to Division-I universities added another name to its list of travelers on Tuesday.
 
Rafael 'Bambu' Crescencio signed a national letter of intent and scholarship agreement with the University of San Diego, joining a trio of high school players that have already been added to the Toreros' program.
 
"We are excited to add a student-athlete of Rafael's caliber," USD head coach Bill Grier said in a press release. "His length, athleticism and skill will have an immediate impact on our program."
 
San Diego wasn't the only school near an ocean that showed interest in the 6-foot-9, 220-pound post player from Santo Andre, Brazil. Once Crescencio whittled his decision down to USD and the University of Hawaii, he decided to stay on the mainland.
 
Crescencio said he appreciated the Catholic university atmosphere, small size and recent updates to the campus facilities, where he plans to study international relations or marketing. He also said he looks forward to playing West Coast Conference hoops for head coach Bill Grier, a former Gonzaga assistant who helped the Toreros reach the NCAA Tournament in 2008.
 
"It's a different feeling over there in the dorms, more like an apartment where I have my own room and share with another Brazilian," he said. "I went over there for two weekends and we (roommate Roberto Mafra) have stuff in common. When you have friends it makes things easier."

In his two years with the Matadors, Crescencio earned all-conference honors as both a starter and a reserve while dealing with a number of injuries. He was the leading shot blocker in the ACCAC as a freshman (3.4 per game), averaging 13 points and six rebounds per game. Crescencio put up similar numbers as a sophomore working alongside ACCAC Player of the Year and his former Brazilian teammate Andre Almeida.
 
"Being an athlete, every time you get hurt it's just something you have to fight through," he said. "There will be plenty of competition over there, so my playing time will come down to how hard I practice."
 
Crescencio will be clogging up the middle with his new Mafra who was also a junior college transfer to USD. The two are the tallest players on the Toreros' roster  that features five other juniors and two seniors this coming season. San Diego was 16-16 last year. Twelve of their games were televised on San Diego local television or ESPN.