Anthony gets jump on senior season

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, July 13, 2005 | 10:22 a.m.

Joel Anthony returned to UNLV this week to begin off-season conditioning preparations for his senior year.

Don't think the 6-foot-9, 250-pound center from Montreal has been slacking off since school ended in the middle of May, however.

Far from it. In fact, Anthony just may have the busiest summer of any returning Rebel.

Anthony just returned from Kingston, Ontario, Canada where he garnered a spot on Canada's Men's Development Team that will represent his country in the World University Games from Aug. 11-21 in Izmir, Turkey.

"They called about a week after I got back and invited me to try out," Anthony said. "They seemed to really like me when I got down there. It was a nice experience. I've never been involved in anything with the Canadian national teams before."

Forty players were invited to try out for Canada's Under 21 and Development teams. Some of the other players included wings Jimmy Balderson of BYU, Jevohn Shephard of Michigan, Steve Sir of Northern Arizona and Jermaine Buckner of Richmond, as well as post players like 7-footer Russell Hicks of Pepperdine, 6-foot-11 Scott Morrison of Portland State and 6-foot-10 Levon Kendall of Pitt.

"I think the experience of going there really helped my game a lot," said Anthony, who arguably improved more than any other Rebel over the course of the 2004-05 season. "We were competing all the time. We were going through two-a-days. And I was lifting a lot. Basically, it was a lot like a preseason camp in terms of conditioning. And being able to play every day against good players definitely helped me."

Anthony will spend the next five weeks in Las Vegas before departing for Turkey.

"I'll have a pretty good start for my senior year," Anthony said. "Playing in Turkey in international competition will be a good experience."

And if that wasn't enough to keep Anthony busy, he also was invited to try out for Canada's Senior National team when he returns from the University Games.

The Senior National squad is Canada's No. 1 national team which has featured NBA MVP Steve Nash and New Orleans Hornets center Jamaal Magloire in recent years.

"If I make that team then I get to go to the Dominican Republic for another tournament," Anthony said.

That would be the FIBA Americas World Championship Qualification Tournament, which runs from Aug. 24-Sept. 4 in Santa Domingo.

Then it's back to UNLV for his senior season.

"I think this really is going to give me a good jump-start for my senior year," Anthony said. "I'm really looking forward to it."

Under the watchful eye of basketball strength and conditioning coach Jason Kabo, has focused his attention on cardiovascular training and diet since the end of the season in March. And the results are stunning.

Morgan, who weighed about 210 pounds last season, is down to 197 well-chiseled pounds.

Morgan says he'd like to play at about 195 pounds this season, when he's expected to compete for the starting point guard job.