Villanova's Mouphtaou Yarou Defies the Odds Despite Hepatitis B Diagnosis

Mouphtaou Yarou, a French-speaking freshman forward from Benin in Africa, was diagnosed with hepatitis B last fall, just 14 hours before Villanova's third game of the season. Despite the setback, Yarou has persevered, and his teammates and coaches have rallied around him. With the support of his teammates, including Francophone graduate assistant Frank Tchuisi, who stayed with Yarou during his recovery, he was able to stay positive and focus on his recovery.

Yarou's journey is a testament to his strength and resilience. After being sidelined indefinitely, he began working out in the weight room to maintain his stamina, and with the help of strength and conditioning coach Lon Record, he was able to regain his strength. Yarou's progress was not without its challenges, however. The Sporting News questioned his age, citing a report from a club tournament in Africa two years earlier that listed him as 23 years old.

Despite the controversy surrounding his age, Yarou has shown his dedication to his studies and his teammates. He earned two A's during a summer session and has been taking advanced calculus courses at Villanova. Wright, the Villanova coach, expressed his admiration for Yarou's intellectual level, saying, "He wants to be taught." Yarou was cleared to play on December 30 and has since averaged 14 minutes and 3.6 points per game.

Key Takeaways:

Mouphtaou Yarou, a freshman forward from Benin in Africa, was diagnosed with hepatitis B in November 2008, just before Villanova's third game of the season.
Yarou's teammates and coaches rallied around him, providing support and encouragement during his recovery.
Despite being sidelined indefinitely, Yarou began working out in the weight room to maintain his stamina and was helped by the strength and conditioning coach Lon Record.
The Sporting News questioned Yarou's age, citing a report from a club tournament in Africa two years earlier that listed him as 23 years old.
Yarou earned two A's during a summer session and has been taking advanced calculus courses at Villanova.
Wright, the Villanova coach, expressed his admiration for Yarou's intellectual level, saying, "He wants to be taught."
Yarou was cleared to play on December 30 and has since averaged 14 minutes and 3.6 points per game.

Statistics:

Average game time: 14 minutes
Average points per game: 3.6
Number of A's earned during a summer session: 2
Number of calculus courses taken at Villanova: 1
Date of diagnosis: November 2008
Date of clearance to play: December 30
Number of years in controversy over age: 2

Sources:

"Villanova's Yarou overcomes hepatitis B, controversy over age" by Seth Davis, published in The Sporting News, undated
"Villanova's Yarou cleared to play after hepatitis B diagnosis" by John Smallwood, published in the Philadelphia Daily News, December 30, 2008