RS FRESHMAN (2007): Gary Bucuren proved to be one of the Panthers most valuable additions for the 2007 season...saw limited action through the latter part of Pitt[apos]s schedule due to an injury, but continued to lead most of the team[apos]s offensive statistical categories...made 37 starts in 39 appearances...batted a team-high .319 with 44 hits and 29 RBI, including two doubles, three triples and five homeruns, putting him among team-leaders in long-ball shots...batted a team-high .356 with runners on base and a team-high .390 with runners in scoring position, including going 8-10 with runners on third...notched both the second-highest slugging percentage with a .486 mark and on-base percentage with a .387 mark...went 3-4 with two RBI, including first career homerun in an early-season showdown with Belmont on February 24...registered a double and scored two runs as part of a 2-4 performance on April 4 vs. Youngstown State...posted a career-high three RBI while going 2-5 at the plate and scoring two runs in an 11-6 victory over visiting Villanova on April 20...had a career-high three hits in three different contests, the last of which came in a 12-5 win over Cleveland State...hit 3-5 against the Vikings with a homerun, RBI and two runs scored...tallied a career-high three putouts in a 3-2 Panthers[apos] win over Cincinnati on March 25...notched a career-high five assists in a 5-4, extra-innings win over Seton Hall on May 17...tallied 15 multi-hit games and eight multi-RBI games...notched a career-long, six-game hitting streak from March 7 through March 16.
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY: Bucuren joined the Panthers as a transfer from the University of Kentucky...was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 34th round in 2005, but decided to forgo the Major Leagues and pursue a college education.
HIGH SCHOOL: Bucuren was a member of the nearby Ambridge High School baseball team under head coach Mike Marvis...posted a .525 batting average as a junior and a .508 average as a senior...named the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Player of the Year as a senior...played for coach Mike Kosko as a member of the Diamond Dogs...helped the team to an NABF National Championship...earned the tournament batting title...was also a free safety and wide receiver on the Ambridge high school football team.
PERSONAL: Born February 13, 1987...son of Gary and Donna Bucuren...has three sisters, Melissa Hunter (30), Kristen (28) and Jenny Huber (26)...an administration of justice major.
