1. Eduardo Enrique Cota was born on May 19,1976 and is a Panamanian-American former professional basketball player.
17 Facts About Ed Cota
1. 2.
Ed Cota underwent a devastating family tragedy in the ninth grade when his parents were in a car accident in Panama that would hospitalize them for several years.
3.
Ed Cota's mother spent a year in the hospital, his stepfather spent two and left in a wheelchair, never to regain use of his legs.
4.
Ed Cota struggled to stay on track in school but was helped by the return of his mother and help from his high school coach Eric Eisenberg to get him counseling and find a prep school to attend to get a fresh start.
5.
Ed Cota then enrolled in St Thomas More School in Oakdale, Connecticut, where he led his team to the New England private school title his junior year as he averaged 21 points and nine assists a game.
6.
Ed Cota was selected for the United States Junior National Select Team and played in the 1996 McDonald's All-American Game, which featured future stars Jermaine O'Neal, Stephen Jackson, Mike Bibby and Kobe Bryant.
7.
Ed Cota is probably best known to basketball fans for his play at point guard for the University of North Carolina from 1996 to 2000.
8.
At UNC, Ed Cota led the Tar Heels to three Final Fours in his four years as a starter.
9.
Ed Cota was named the 1997 ACC Rookie of the Year and a 1997 Freshman All-America.
10.
Ed Cota was the leading vote-getter on the 1997 All-ACC Freshman Team.
11.
Ed Cota earned 2nd-Team All-Conference honors three years in a row, as a sophomore, junior and senior.
12.
Ed Cota was named a 1999 AP All-America Team Honorable Mention.
13.
Ed Cota earned three NCAA All-Regional Team selections as a senior while leading UNC to another Final Four.
14.
Remarkably, Ed Cota played an NCAA record 138 games without ever fouling out.
15.
Ed Cota was not drafted by the NBA after graduating from North Carolina.
16.
Ed Cota played in the 2005 FIBA Europe League All-Star Game.
17.
Ed Cota competed internationally with the Panama men's national basketball team at the 2006 FIBA World Championship tournament.