| George von Backstrom |
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 | Class:
Senior
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| Hometown:
Pretoria, South Africa
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| High School:
Die Wilgers High School
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| Last College:
Western Nebraska CC
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| Weight:
250
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| Position:
Center
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| Experience:
1V
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OREGON STATE
1999-00: von Backstrom should be much improved over last year, his first taste of Division I basketball...look for him to be more fluid on offense this season...possesses a soft touch around the basket and a nearly undefendable left-handed hook...an excellent free throw shooter...his long wingspan causes opponents to alter shots...this will be his fifth season of organized basketball.
1998-99: George played in all 27 games, starting 15...he averaged 3.2 points and 2.3 rebounds...scored a career-high 12 points in OSU’s victory over UC Irvine...had a career-high eight rebounds in the season opener vs. Idaho State...he buried 27 of 32 free throw attempts for a percentage of .844...hit .536 (30-56) from the field...had four blocked shots vs. Arizona State...played 20-plus minutes four times, including a career-high 31 in an overtime win over USC...Pacific-10 Conference All-Academic Team honorable mention.
1997-98: von Backstrom redshirted his first season in the program.
WESTERN NEBRASKA
George played his first basketball at Western Nebraska Community College...averaged 3.9 points and 3.0 rebounds as a sophomore...helped the team to a 33-5 record and a final national ranking of No. 8...his brother Phillip was a teammate.
DIE WILGERS
George participated in tennis, rugby and track...he played lock forward in rugby and led the team to the regional title three years...a high jumper and sprinter in track...played on the South African Tennis tour, and also in Europe.
PERSONAL
Born December 2, 1975 in Pretoria, South Africa...son of George and Marlyn von Backstrom...has one brother and one sister...favorite athlete is David Robinson...speaks five languages...tennis is his hobby...majoring in speech communications.
GAMES OF NOTE
Nov. 19, 1998 vs. Idaho State -- In his first career Division I game, von Backstrom scored seven points and had a career-high eight rebounds.
Nov. 28, 1998 vs. UC Irvine -- von Backstrom scored a career-high 12 points, 10 of those in the first half, as OSU posted a 10-point victory over the Anteaters...he also had five rebounds.
[-----Total------]
YEAR G/GS FG-FGA .PCT 3FG-3FGA .PCT FT-FTA .PCT PTS AVG. REB. AVG. PF/D A TO BK ST MIN
1999 27/15 30-56 .536 0-1 .000 27-32 .844 87 3.2 62 2.3 53/1 14 29 19 5 352
Totals 27/15 30-56 .536 0-1 .000 27-32 .844 87 3.2 62 2.3 53/1 14 29 19 5 352
CAREER-HIGHS
Points: 12 vs. UC Irvine (11/28/98)
Rebounds: 8 vs. Idaho State (11/19/98)
Assists: 4 vs. UC Irvine (11/28/98)
Blocked Shots: 4 vs. Arizona State (1/21/99)
Steals: 1, many times
Field Goals: 3, three times
3-PT Field Goals: 0
Free Throws: 6 vs. UC Irvine (11/28/98)
Minutes: 31 vs. USC (1/9/99)
