New Mexico State University Athletics

2006-07 (Junior): After sitting out the first three games of the season due to a knee injury, Passos burst onto the scene as he started the next 31 games for the Aggies.  In his first season at NMSU, Passos set the school’s single-season field goal percentage mark at .631.  Tracey Ware set the previous mark of .625 during the 1992-93 season.  Passos ended the year ranked fifth on the team in scoring at 8.7 points per game and third in rebounding.  His 6.1 rebounds per game also ranked 13th in the WAC.  Passos was second on the team with 16 blocked shots and had 20 steals and 21 assists as a junior.  Passos scored in double-figures 12 times last season, led the team in scoring twice and had 15 or more points in five different games.  He grabbed 10 or more rebounds five times and tied for the team lead with four double-doubles.  Passos shot the ball well throughout the season as he connected on 50 percent of his attempts in 23 games, including his first 11 games as an Aggie.  In his first Division I game, Passos made his first start for NMSU at I-25 rival New Mexico (Dec. 5) and had 10 points at the Pit.  Passos was 3-for-4 from the field and hit 4-of-5 free throws in the game.  In the inaugural Lou Henson Classic (Dec. 1-2), Passos averaged 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in wins over Chicago State (Dec. 1) and San Francisco (Dec. 2).  In his first meeting with I-10 rival UTEP (Dec. 9), Passos paced the Aggies to their first win over the Miners since 2003 as he finished with 10 points and five rebounds.  Two nights later, Passos erupted for 16 points and six rebounds in a win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.  In a win over Western New Mexico (Dec. 21), Passos scored a career-high 18 points and grabbed three rebounds versus the Mustangs.  In NMSU’s non-conference finale at Chicago State (Jan. 1), Passos had 17 points and nine rebounds.  In a win at Boise State (Jan. 13), Passos registered his first career double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds.  Four days later, Passos recorded his second straight double-double as he had 14 points and 10 rebounds in a loss at Louisiana Tech.  Passos notched his third double-double in an 11-day span as he finished with 17 points and a career-best 16 rebounds in a win over Idaho (Jan. 24).  Eleven of his rebounds were on the offensive glass and he also set a career high with three blocked shots.  In the ESPNU BracketBuster game versus Ohio (Feb. 17), Passos had his fourth career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass.  In his first NCAA Tournament game versus No.  11 Texas (March 16), Passos recorded 15 points and eight rebounds while shooting 6-for-9 from the field and hitting 3-of-4 free throws.

2005-06 (Sophomore): Passos played his sophomore year at Arkansas-Fort Smith and led the Lions to their first National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship in 25 years.  Passos finished the 2006 tournament averaging 13.3 points and 10.3 rebounds en route to earning tournament most valuable player honors.  He saved his best for last as he scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in a 68-59 win over Tallahassee Community College in the title game.  In his only season at Arkansas-Fort Smith, Passos guided the Lions to a 33-3 overall record.  On the way to its second national title, UA-Fort Smith won its 26th Bi-State Conference title and the 13th Region II Championship.  Passos was also named the Region II Tournament MVP.  On the year, Passos averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 66 percent from the field.

2004-05 (Freshman): Before attending Arkansas-Fort Smith, Passos played his freshman season at Dixie State College.  He started 25 of 26 games while taking the Cougars to a 17-9 overall record.   In just over 24 minutes per game, Passos averaged 11.1 points per game and recorded a team-high 6.9 rebounds per contest.  He scored 10 or more points in 16 games and had double figure rebounds in seven contests.  Passos also recorded five double-doubles as a freshman.   He finished the season shooting 62.8 percent from the floor and led the team with 29 blocked shots.  Passos shot 70 percent from the field in 12 games and had two or more blocks in nine contests.  In his first game with the Cougars, Passos scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds against Phoenix College.  Passos was 7-for-10 from the field, dished out three assists and had two blocked shots.  His first career double-double came two games later as Passos finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds in a win over Pro Look Sports.  His second double-double game occurred against Scottsdale Community College (Nov. 20) as he finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds.  At Diablo College (Nov. 27), Passos went 7-for-10 from the field and dropped in 17 points while grabbing eight rebounds.  Against Garden City Community College (Jan.   1), Passos posted a career night as he finished with 23 points on 11-for-15 shooting.  Passos again stepped up as he finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds, including nine on the offensive glass at North Idaho College (Jan. 28).

High School: Prior to starting his collegiate basketball career, Passos was a standout at Laurinburg Institute in Laurinburg, N.C.   Over his final two seasons at Laurinburg, he directed the Tigers to a 25-18 record and top 25 national ranking in 2002-03 from ihigh.com.  As a junior and senior, Passos averaged 16.4 points and 11 rebounds per game.  He was also selected for the Brazilian Under-21 National Team and was rated as the No. 12 best power forward at the ABCD Camp his senior year. 

Personal: Passos was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and is the son of Silvio and Solange Passos.  He is majoring in individualized studies.