FRESHMAN SEASON (2012-13): Eligible to play for the Irish following the 2012 fall semester ... joined Notre Dame program for the 12 spring semester ... permanently blind (severed an optical nerve) in his left eye following an accident in a pickup game in July 2011 that left his playing career in doubt ... practiced with the team for the second half of the 2011-12 campaign ... a strong, physical player who just needs time to develop his skills.
HIGH SCHOOL: Began prep career at Cheshire Academy in Connecticut before finishing playing his final season at Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kan. ... averaged 15.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.0 blocked shots and 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals as a senior in leading team to final 24-4 mark ... MVP of National Association of Christian Athletes (NACA) national championship (led his team to title) during 2010-11 season ... ranked by ESPNU as the No. 27-ranked power forward in the `11 class ... garnered MVP honors from the Tom Bowen/Paul Wintz Orange & Black Classic in senior year after scoring 18 points in the championship game ... earned an all-Western New England first-team honors during 2009-10 season at Cheshire Academy ... averaged 23.7 ppg. and 11.3 rpg. his junior year for the Fighting Cats after netting 15.7 points and grabbing 9.8 rebounds in sophomore season ... dropped a season-high 34 points in 2010 vs. Kingswood Oxford at the KIT Invitational Holiday tournament where he was named to the all-tournament team ... played alongside current Irish teammate Zach Auguste for the Albany City Rocks AAU development team in 2010.
PERSONAL: Full name is Eric Katenda ... born in Paris, France ... most of his life before coming to the United States after freshman year of high school in fall of 2008 ... speaks two languages -- French and English ... son of Jeanne Kalama ... has a younger brother, Abel ... enrolled in the First Year of Studies.
