Alex Opacic Class: Junior Hometown: Sydney, Australia High School: Australian Institute of Sport Height / Weight: 6-10 / 230 Position: Forward

GENERAL: Last name is pronounced O-pah-chich...skilled player who began to display potential a year ago...expected to compete for a starting job this year and assume a bigger share of the squad's front line production...fundamentally very sound...blessed with good offensive moves...has added needed weight and strength since joining the program...good passer with ability to connect from 3-point range.

AS A SOPHOMORE (2006-07): Fashioned a solid sophomore campaign serving as backup over the first 21 games of the season before moving into the starting lineup over the final 10 contests...averaged 6.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per game for the season...enjoyed streches of outstanding play, including a season high 20-point outing (8x8 FGs) in a 69-56 home victory over Chattanooga...poured in 18 points, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range, in an 80-77 double overtime home loss to College of Charleston...tallied 12 points in Furman's 88-69 season opening win over Charleston Southern...scored 11 points in an 83-69 home win over Mercer and 10 points versus Wofford in Greenville (68-65 win).

AS A FRESHMAN (2005-06): Saw action in 17 games as a true freshman...contributed 3.1 points and 1.8 rebounds...opened his collegiate career with an 11-point (4x5 FTs), five-rebound performance against Macalester (100-58 win)...contributed a season high 11 points versus Johns Hopkins (91-55 win)...had seven points against Sewanee (99-69 win)...most significant performance may have come in a 67-59 win over Wofford, when he came off the bench to contribute seven points and a season high six rebounds (and an assist) in a season high 22 minutes of action.

HIGH SCHOOL: 2004 graduate of Westfields High School...basketball coach was Bernie Slattery...averaged 19.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game in his final season at Westfields before being selected to attend the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) his senior year...AIS is considered the premier basketball development program in the country for future Olympians and professionals and has produced several players who have competed collegiately in the United States, including 2004-05 national player-of-the-year Andrew Bogut of Utah and Georgia Tech's Luke Schenscher...in all played on two regional championship teams, a state national championship team, and a national title squad during his junior basketball career...also competed on an Australian national team in the under 19 Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany that featured team from 16 countries.

PERSONAL: Full name is Alex Opacic...son of Dusko and Nevenka Opacic...born June 3, 1986, in Zandar in the former Yugoslavia...family fled the Balkan conflict for Australia in 1996...has a sister, Katarina...communications major.