Personal
Born in August 1980 ... a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil ... parents are Tadeu and Neuza ... has one brother ... wife named Cheyenne and daughter named Tais ... enjoys playing soccer and big fan of Brazil's 2002 World Cup Champions ... dean's list student at Arizona Western ... despite coming to the United States without speaking English, he was able to complete his degree in four years ... graduated from BYU in April 2004 as a recreation management major.
Before BYU
(BRAZILIAN NATIONAL TEAM): Played against NBA and other professional players on the Brazilian National Team at the 2002 World Basketball Championships in Indianapolis.
(ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE): One of the top-10 junior college players in the country and considered among the top big men ... earned second-team NJCAA All-America honors in 2001-02 ... as a sophomore led Arizona Western to a 28-3 record and No. 6 national ranking before losing in the finals of the NJCAA Region 1 Tournament ... scored 17.9 points and grabbed 10.7 rebounds for the Matadors while shooting 57 percent from the floor, 28 percent on threes (14-49 from three-point range) and 67 percent from the line ... was second-team all-region as a freshman in 2000-01 and a first-teamer and region MVP as a sophomore ... coached by Kelly Green.
HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Padre Anacleto High School.
Summary
After transferring from Arizona Western College where he was among the nation's top-10 junior college players, Rafael Araujo played two years at BYU, starting all 62 games and taking the team to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances ... Basketball Times Second Team All-American and AP Honorable Mention All-American honoree as a senior ... All-Conference player both years he played in the Mountain West Conference, earning Player of the Year honors in his senior season ... Four-time MWC Player of the Week ... Led the team and finished second in the MWC in rebounding during the past two seasons (10.1 and 8.9) ... Also led 2004 team in scoring (18.4), blocks (0.8) and steals (1.4) ... Second on 2003 team in steals (1.4), third in scoring (12.0) ... 11th in nation in rebounds per game in 2004 ... Fourth highest national combined scoring and rebounding average ... Top scorer and rebounder of NCAA Div. I players 6-11 or taller in 2004 ... Earned fifth place among all-time BYU players for double-doubles recorded in a single season with 16 in 2004 ... BYU earned a 26-1 home record in his two years ... A skilled and athletic center, he is a dominating rebounder and top scoring threat in the post ... Has both power and finesse with his size and strength ... Runs the floor well and has range on the perimeter ... Career highs of 32 points, 17 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 blocks, 5 steals.
Stats
HONORS: Member of back-to-back NCAA Tournament teams (2003 and 2004) Starter on BYU's 2003 MWC Championship Team 2004 Basketball Times Second Team All-American 2004 AP Honorable Mention All-American 2004 MWC Co-Player of the Year 2004 All-MWC First Team 2004 All-MWC Tournament Team 2004 USBWA District 8 Team 2004 NABC District 13 First Team 2004 Wooden Award Midseason Top 30 List Chevrolet Player of the Game (NCAA vs. Syracuse) 2003 Cable Car Classic MVP The Sporting News National Player of the Week (Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2003) Collegeinsider.com National Player of the Week (Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2003) 2003 All-MWC Third Team 2003 MWC Newcomer of the Year (Las Vegas Review-Journal) Four-time MWC Player of the Week honoree No. 4 in the nation in combined points and rebounds averages As senior,led BYU in Points (18.4), Rebounds (10.1), Steals (1.4), Blocks (0.8) Led league in steals in MWC games as a senior Tied for 5th all-time at BYU for Double-Doubles in a season (16) 24 career double-double games at BYU Led BYU in Rebounds (8.9) as a junior 2002 NJCAA All-America Second Team at Arizona Western CAREER HIGHS: POINTS: 32 vs. Okla. St. (2004) FG MADE: 13 at AFA (2003) FG ATT: 20 at USF (2003) FG%: .900 (9-10) vs. AFA (2004) 3FG MADE: 2 vs. USC, at Santa Clara (2004) 3FG ATT: 5 vs. USC (2004) 3FG%: 1.000 (2-2) at Santa Clara(2004) FT MADE: 12 vs. Okla. St. , vs. Wyoming (2004) FT ATT: 17 vs. Wyoming (2004) FT %: 1.000 (4-4) (twice) last at SDSU (2004) REB: 17 at San Francisco (2003),vs. Okla. St. (2004) ASSISTS: 4 (3 times) last at UNLV (2004) STEALS: 5 at AFA (2003) BLOCKS: 5 vs. St .Mary's (2004) MINUTES: 38 at Utah St. (2004) ARAUJO YEAR-BY-YEAR DIVISION I STATS: Year GP GS Min Avg FG FGA Pct 3FG FGA Pct 2002-03 32 32 802 25.1 155 278 .558 3 11 .273 2003-04 30 30 895 29.8 211 368 .573 8 30 .267 Career Totals 62 62 1666 26.9 366 646 .567 11 41 .268 FT FTA Pct Off Def Tot Avg PF FO A Avg TO 70 109 .642 91 195 286 8.9 118 7 38 1.2 94 122 169 .722 87 216 303 10.1 94 3 37 1.2 87 192 278 .691 178 411 589 9.5 212 10 75 1.2 181 Blk Stl Pts Avg 15 45 383 12.0 25 43 552 18.4 40 88 935 15.1
Araujo was third-team All-MWC as BYU's top rebounder (8.9) and third-leading scorer (12.0) ... was second in the MWC in rebounds ... led BYU in scoring in nine games and has reached double-digit points in 18 games ... had double-digit rebounds in 13 games ... was second on the team in steals (1.4) and ranked third among all MWC players in thefts in league games ... after a tough outing in his first game of the year, BYU's big center showed his vast potential -- he was named MWC Player of the Week Dec. 30 after his 24 points and 17 rebounds at USF, also coming up with 3 steals, and then recorded game highs of 17 points and 7 rebounds on 8-11 shooting vs SUU ... followed that up with two double-doubles the next week: 19 points (8-11 shooting) and 11 boards vs. Pepperdine and 11 points (4-5 shooting) and 14 rebounds vs. Oklahoma St ... scored a career-best 31 points on 13-16 shooting at AFA, also adding 9 rebounds and a career-high 5 steals ... led BYU with 22 points and 15 rebounds vs. UNLV ... had a team-leading eight double-doubles and was one point or rebound from four other double-doubles, including 31 points and 9 rebounds at Air Force.
Named Second Team All-American by BasketballTimes and Honorable Mention All-American by the Associated Press, Araujo also earned MWC Co-Player of the Year honors and was an All-MWC First Team selection for the Cougar team that returned to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five years ... He has been named to the NABC District 13 First Team and the USBWA District 8 Team ... He led BYU in points, rebounds, steals and blocks ... He has led BYU in scoring in 19 games, been the leading rebounder on 25 occasions, had a team-high steals 11 times and had the most assists in two contests ... He ranked among national leaders with 16 double-doubles this season, making him fifth all-time among BYU players for the most double-doubles in a season ... He has topped 20 points 13 times this year and 30 points twice ... He has had 27 double-digit scoring games, including a string of 16 straight double-figure scoring games ... He has had 16 double-digit rebound games, including seven of 13 or more ... He was named Cable Car Classic MVP, and has won three MWC Player of the Week awards this season ... His strong play has earned national notice, being named National Player of the Week by Sporting News and by Collegeinsider.com and earning supporting cast national player recognition from ESPN ... He had the fourth-highest combined scoring and rebounding averages in the nation ... He ranked in the top-4 in six categories in the MWC stats and was top-10 in eight categories ... He was the league's No. 2 scorer as well as being second in rebounding and steals ... He was No. 1 in steals in MWC games ... He shot 60 percent or better in 18 games, topping 70 percent on six occasions, including a career-best 9-of-10 vs. Air Force when he scored 21 points ... He scored 24 points and pulled down 12 rebounds against Syracuse in the NCAA Tournament, earning him Chevrolet Player of the Game honors ... He had 21 points, including two clutch free throws with a minute to go and then the game-winning bucket with 0.5 seconds left, grabbed 13 rebounds and tied a personal-best with 4 assists at UNLV ... He had team highs of 18 points, 8 rebounds vs. New Mexico and had a team-high 21 points and 12 rebounds at CSU, and added a nifty behind-the-back assist to a cutting Cougar for a layup ... He had a solid game at Wyoming with 12 points on 6-of-11 shooting, with 9 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals ... He took a career-high 17 free throw attempts vs. Wyoming in Provo, equaling his personal high of 12 makes ... BYU is 6-0 this year when he attempts double-digit free throws ... Played career-best 38 minutes at Utah State, dishing out a career-high 4 assists ... Had 4 assists vs. SDSU, including a behind-the-back beauty to a posting Garner Meads ... He is the first BYU player to have back-to-back 30-point games since Terrell Lyday in January 2000 with a 31 points showcase at Boise State and a career-high 32 points against Oklahoma State ... also pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds verses the Cowboys.
2003 SUMMER TOUR IN AUSTRALIA: Araujo averaged 14.0 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 0.3 apg and 1.8 spg in 20.2 minutes during BYU's 2003 summer tour against Australian professional teams.