UNLV center earns high marks

Steve Carp

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 1998 | 10:11 a.m.

Simply put, the goal was to get better.

Whether Kaspars Kambala achieved that goal won't be known until mid-November when the UNLV basketball season begins. But the 6-foot-9 sophomore center is convinced he will have accomplished his summer mission when the Rebels meet Sacred Heart Nov. 14 at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Kambala recently returned from Hawaii, where he spent a week honing his skills at Pete Newell's Big Man's Camp. The camp, which is by invitation only, specializes in individual instruction and breaking down a player's game to the most minute detail.

"It was the best experience I had all summer," Kambala said. "You hear a lot about him (Newell), but I had never met him. I wanted to see what Pete Newell was all about."

Kambala found out. Being around Newell, he learned a lot about the center position in a short period. He also benefitted from his daily workouts with former UNLV coach Tim Grgurich, who is a mainstay at Newell's camp.

"He knows so much," Kambala said of Grgurich, the former Seattle SuperSonics assistant. "He's the best individual instructor in the world. I have a lot of respect for him. He can show you and teach you."

Kambala said his physical approach to basketball has improved, as well as his mental outlook on playing the game.

"They really get into detail," he said of the week-long camp. "They work with you on your footwork, positioning, all those things. You do the same drills every day for three hours a day."

Kambala said the key for him is broadening his basketball education.

"A lot of players train hard, but they don't train smart," he said. "You need to know what your shortcomings are and try and build them up.

"I'm learning how to train smart. I know I'm definitely smarter. I know the mistakes I made."

Kambala, who averaged 11.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and had nine double-doubles last year as the WAC's Mountain Division Freshman of the Year, has added about 10 pounds of muscle to his 6-9, 260-pound frame. But the big change fans will notice is that his game won't be strictly power.

"I'm developing some moves so I can be a complete offensive player," he said. "Last year, I relied more on my strength. I would rush my offensive moves instead of taking my time.

"Now, I hope to play a little more finesse and use my power when I have to, not all the time. I'm more confident with my whole offensive game."

Coach Bill Bayno said the reports from Grgurich regarding Kambala were positive.

"Gerg said he looked really good the last three days," Bayno said. "Now it's up to Kas to carry it through to this season. We're still going to work with him on passing out of the double-team and being a better defender in the post."

Bayno said Kambala's biggest challenge as a sophomore is fighting complacency.

"The toughest thing about playing at UNLV is there's no pro team and the players here are the focal point of the city," he said. "Kids tend to get a big head from all the adulation from the fans and my biggest concern is will all of this get to their heads?

"I tell all my players, not just Kas, that you don't embrace success. The moment you think you're satisfied, that's when you stop making progress."

Kambala said he doesn't know how much improvement he has made. He'd rather let his play over the coming months answer that question.

"I never say I'm a better player, because when you say that, it backfires in your face," he said.

Hoop du jour

* RECRUITING TRAIL: It appears California has won the race for Nick Vander Laan as the 6-foot-10 center from Sacramento has verbally committed to the Golden Bears and will stay close to home in Northern California. UNLV coach Bill Bayno conceded that Cal had the inside track to Vander Laan all along. Having lost out, the Rebels are focusing their efforts on Vander Laan's summer ball teammate, Dalron Johnson. The 6-9 forward from Verbum Dei High in Los Angeles seriously is considering UNLV, although he has not made a verbal commitment.

* HOOP CLINICS: A series of basketball clinics featuring Bayno, his staff and selected players will be held locally, beginning noon Saturday at the Doolittle Center. The clinics, sponsored by the UNLV athletic department and Pepsi, are free and open to boys and girls 14-under. The other dates and sites are Sept. 12 at the Bennett Family YMCA and Oct. 3 at the Von Tobel Community Center. All clinics begin at noon. UNLV women's coach Regina Miller and her staff also will participate as instructors. For more information, call 895-1529.

* SCHEDULE UPDATE: The Southern Cal-UNLV game will be played Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Thomas & Mack Center instead of Friday the 20th. USC originally wanted to move the game to Friday so the Trojans could return to Los Angeles for the annual USC-UCLA football showdown that Saturday. But with USC playing Wednesday the 18th, coach Henry Bibby reconsidered. The game was put back on its original date -- Nov. 21. Game time for the Dec. 12 UCLA game still is up in the air because of television. The game will likely be carried on Fox Sports West.