Guard signed by Central Florida

Shooting-guard Frank Bertz signed to the University of Central Florida for the upcoming season.

Bertz was named to the first-team all-conference lineup for the South Coast-North division this season.

He has played the sport since he was five years old, starting in a peewee league and worked on his skills all the way to where he is now.

“My coach at Sultana High School prepared me for the transition to college practices. Now, Coach Mosley is making sure I am ready for UCF. Without their help, I don’t think I would have been able to do it on my own,” Bertz said.

He is a first-generation college student and the second oldest of three children. He is in his secoond year at East Los Angeles College as a criminal justice major.

Apart from playing basketball, Bertz is part of the Male Leadership Academy on campus.

Jamier Cross, who is currently Bertz’s roommate, said they first met during summer 2016, when they both began to train for the basketball team.

“When I first met Frank, I had a feeling we would get along pretty well. We usually just do homework when we are home. When we have free time, we play video games or watch movies. Literally, anything that will make us laugh,” Cross said,

“I’ve helped Frank after practice improve his techniques. He is like a brother to me so I want to make sure he is improving.”

Huskies’ Center Colin Bell met Bertz after transferring to ELAC last year and said that the two got closer this semester.

He said that although Bertz is 20 years old, he’s more like a 12-year-old kid.

“Frank could play video games for 24 hours if given the opportunity. (He) is really a little kid in a 20-year- old person’s body,” Bell said.

Bell said that Bertz is the most unorthodox shooter that he’s ever played with, but is probably the best.

“I think it’s crazy … He ended up signing to the biggest school out of everyone on the team. I think that surprised a lot of people. I think a lot of people will be surprised when he does so well there,” Bell said.

“Frank started to play for the team in the fall of 2016. We recruited him out of high school, I had a relationship with his coaches in high school.

“His family and coaches thought coming to play at ELAC would be a good fit for him.”

“I have seen him get stronger and faster as a player. I know he had matured both academically and on the court.

He represents ELAC very well, I’m honestly very excited to see him on tv,” John Mosley, head coach of the basketball team said.

On the team, Bertz had the second highest minutes played per game.

He also had the second highest average for points per game.