Freshman guard makes the transition

Friday, Nov. 18, 2005 | 9:07 a.m.

Jo'Van Adams is the gem of UNLV's most recent recruiting class, and he said he has been making strides in his transition to college basketball.

"The transition's been good," he said. "Other players, like Ricky Morgan and Mike Umeh, and even the big men, have made me comfortable and are teaching me parts of the game. I've been listening and coming along."

A 6-foot, 190-pound Houston native, Adams was rated the No. 2 point guard prospect in the nation, and 19th overall, by the recruiting Web site rivalshoops.com. He averaged 28 points, 12 assists and eight steals as a senior at Gulf Shores Academy.

Still, he considers himself more of a shooting guard, so he has had plenty to learn in backing up starting point guard Ricky Morgan.

"Man, going against Mike and Jason Petrimoulx ... they're great players," Adams said. "They're quick and fast, and I'm learning every day. I'll just try to get everyone involved."

Adams will make his D-I debut off the bench at 7:30 tonight when UNLV opens its season against Long Beach State at the Thomas & Mack Center. In two exhibitions, he scored 18 points and had six rebounds, four assists and four turnovers.

Rebels coach Lon Kruger said the team will benefit from having so many guards who can handle the ball.

"All the perimeter guys really handle the ball well, whether it's Michael or Jason or Curtis (Terry)," Kruger said.

RIGHT OR LEFT

Senior forward Dustin Villepigue has shown an affinity for the hook shot, which enabled him to go 11-for-15 from the field in the two exhibitions.

"You know, I guess you can call me an old-school player," he said. "But I've really worked on the craft. If I go to it, I have very much confidence that I'll make it every time. Any opportunity I can go to it, I'll go to it."

With either hand, too, which was the main focus of his offseason regimen.

"I know a lot of scouting reports will say, 'He goes over his left shoulder, he's right-handed,' " Villepigue said. "But they'll say that, and I'm going to go the other way."

ALSO NOTED:

* Senior forward Louis Amundson, a career 43.9-percent shooter at the free-throw line, made 18-of-22 from the stripe after a recent practice. That hasn't been uncommon. He has taken his time and has shown splendid form when nobody's watching.

He connected on just 28.8 percent of his freebies in 2004-05.

"It's something that has been frustrating," he said. "I felt like it affected my game last season ... even if I don't hit my free throws. At the very least, I don't want it to affect the rest of my game."

* UNLV is 33-10 lifetime vs. Long Beach State.

BY THE NUMBERS

53 -- The minutes Jason Petrimoulx played, without a turnover, in UNLV's two exhibition games.

601 -- Consecutive games the Rebels have made at least one 3-point shot since it was instituted in 1986-87. Vanderbilt (600) is on UNLV's heels and plays tonight, Sunday and Tuesday. UNLV next plays Tuesday, at home against Hawaii.

Rob Miech can be reached at 259-4087 or at miech@lasvegassun.com.