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twitterUNLV BASKETBALL:
Jasper still recovering but ‘revved’ for team workouts
After surgery, Rebels point guard working his way to full speed
Justin M. Bowen
UNLV guard Derrick Jasper shoots free throws as his teammates wind down a practice at the Cox Pavilion with a stretch session. Jasper, who transferred from Kentucky and will have two years of eligibility remaining after this season, works out individually as he gets his left knee and leg back to full strength following microfracture surgery almost two years ago.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009 | 2:10 a.m.
UNLV guard Derrick Jasper shoots around in the Cox Pavilion following a Rebels practice. Once fully healthy, Jasper hopes to live up to the potential he took with him after graduating from Paso Robles (Calif.) High and heading to Kentucky.
Sun archives
- 2008-09 season is Jasper’s time to heal (1-23-09)
- Jasper warming up to Vegas (7-17-08)
- Jasper officially becomes a Rebel (7-14-08)
- Ex-Kentucky guard Jasper excited to play hoops at UNLV (6-16-08)
UNLV point guard Derrick Jasper has relished being cleared for full-contact workouts since the end of the basketball season.
“He’s revved up and ready,” said Rebels coach Lon Kruger.
Still, Jasper’s regimen is tempered and likely will be for a while. Last week, after taking part in a full workout he sat out the next one to recuperate.
That’s the tedious challenge of coming back from microfracture surgery, the delicate procedure Jasper required on his left knee before his 2007-08 season at Kentucky.
“One day he might play, then he’ll stretch or shoot the next day,” Kruger said. “We’re still a long way from the start of the season, so it’s a matter of caution than total disregard of the injury.
“We’ll see how he feels come August, September and October. We’d like to think he can fully recover and be injury-free. Everyone is a little different.”
Collegiate coaches have been able to run their teams through practices for two hours a week. Kruger has had them practice an hour twice a week and for 40 minutes three times a week.
That ends Wednesday, when players can be put through the paces in individual workouts of no more than four Rebels per session for a couple of weeks.
During the team sessions, Kruger and his assistants have mostly tutored half-court work that has focused on individual breakdowns, mechanics and shooting.
It’s been mostly three-on-three, with some five-on-five drills, at the Cox Pavilion practice gym.
It’s been invaluable to Jasper, who sat out all season after transferring from Kentucky.
Unlike forward Chace Stanback, who bolted from UCLA but was able to practice full-time against the Rebels’ regulars on the UNLV scout squad, Jasper never took part in the full-speed runs.
Often, he was in rehabilitation with either trainer Dave Tomchek or strength coach Jason Kabo. Usually, Japser worked on his 3-point shot when he arrived at practice.
Sometimes, he ran laps with teammates before practice.
A few times at the Cox gym, he finished long shooting sessions with power jam after power jam. Once, assistant coach Lew Hill implored Jasper to quit shooting, so he didn’t overextend himself.
Hill had to demand that Jasper bounce him the ball.
Jasper, who turned 21 on Monday, will be a junior next season.
“He’s still kind of recovering,” Kruger said Monday. “He hasn’t played live, really, in a year. He’s anxious to get out there and get going. Rehab has gone well, and he’ll continue that for the next several weeks and into next season.
“He has to hold back throughout rehab. It can be a little frustrating, I’m sure. But he’s handling it well. He’s worked hard, and rehab is a part of it. He’s doing a lot of extra shooting and he’s very anxious.”
Kruger hasn’t noticed a particular incident in which Jasper has been hesitant with a move, twist or jump on his left leg, but that wouldn’t be unnatural.
“I’m sure, in his mind, there are moments where there are reservations,” Kruger said. “Coming off an injury like that, I think there’s a little trust factor or questions about going full speed.
“There will be some soreness after going full speed one day, then he won’t go full speed the next day. So he’s not full speed, every day, without regard.”
Kruger and his assistants have seen the player they scouted in Paso Robles, Calif., in Jasper over recent weeks.
His instincts and understanding of the game, and his feel for teammates are all very good, Kruger said.
“He’s always been a team-first guy,” Kruger said. “And he’s very unselfish. He competes really hard. All those things, he’s doing in a very positive way.”
Wide-open lineup next season
As far as projecting next season’s lineup – with Jasper at the point, Tre’Von Willis at shooting guard and Stanback at forward – Kruger, as usual, does not want to get ahead of himself.
With the departure of senior starters Wink Adams, Rene Rougeau and Joe Darger, and reserve Mo Rutledge, minutes will be available. How they will be dispersed, according to Kruger, remains to be seen.
“There could be a lot of combinations, at this point,” Kruger said. “We have no idea who the starting five will be. There will be so many new guys … it will be wide open.
“I think that’s part of the intrigue with next season, and part of the concern is the uncertainty of who’s going to be in there, who will win spots and minutes. That’s healthy, exciting competition.”
Pilots and Lopez dominate
One of the new players next season will be 6-11 center Carlos Lopez, a Puerto Rico native who has spent three seasons at Findlay College Prep.
Lopez helped the Pilots win the inaugural ESPN RISE National High School Invitational two weekends ago in Maryland.
“That was great,” Kruger said. “I’m really happy for ‘Los’ and his teammates and the program. I didn’t get a chance to see much, but what I did see they were clearly the dominant team. They distinguished themselves.”
Fore
Kruger is finalizing plans with his second Coaches vs. Cancer golf tournament, which will be played June 1 (at Southern Highlands) and June 2 (TPC Canyons).
A silent auction and live entertainment will highlight a kick-off event at 7 p.m. on May 31 in the 10,000-square-foot Hardwood Suite at the Palms. It costs $100, and cocktails and food will be served.
Fans will be able to mingle with some of the coaches who will play in the tournament, which will include Jim Boylen (Utah), Dana Altman (Creighton), Frank Martin (Kansas State), Bill Grier (San Diego), Mike Montgomery (California) and Heath Schroyer (Wyoming).
Former UNLV star Greg Anthony also has confirmed that he will participate.
All proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
“Always drink a lot of water,” Kruger said of golf in Las Vegas in early June, “and stay as cool as possible.”
Kruger has been so busy he hasn’t been able to hit any balls at the driving range. Maybe this week, he said.
He and his wife, Barb, have plans to attend weddings of family friends’ children this offseason in Florida and Kansas, but there are no plans for an extended vacation in any exotic destination.
Discussion: 16 comments so far…
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Any update with Victor Rudd?
ksiff, nope. As I've written, don't expect to see him in a UNLV uniform. Hopefully, he gets his academics in order and winds up somewhere. On a Findlay Prep tangent, coach Mike Peck did get a congratulatory text message from Willie Hankins when the Pilots won that nat'l title in Maryland. There was no such note or call from Rudd, however. I am pretty certain that that page has turned, as far as Rudd and UNLV.
if they're not going after Rudd who are they going after? any idea?
are they just shelving the scholarship to put it to use for the next recruiting class?
Jasper, Willis, and Stanback as the perimeter players sounds pretty fierce. That's an NBA sized back court.
That's a very good backcourt vegan. If Jasper is 100-percent healthy, it will be formidable, especially in 2010-11, when they have a season under their belts together. Final Four?
There are some fringe figures for that final scholarship, maybe even a last-second surprise. But it likely will be kept for next season.
Hey Rob- is the Senior class still practicing? Or are they done?
Ah Rob, last second surprise huh. Sounds like it might not be a surprise to you.. Who are these fringe figures you speak of?
On Rudd.... when I was in Tucson 2 weeks ago, their local paper had an article that quoted Rudd's "AAU advisor" (always a problem when that phrase preceeds a player's name) saying he was a lock to attend Arizona if Reggie Theus was named coach there. Since that did not happen, he's allegedly looking at Arizona State. We don't need his issues here.
Final Four Rob???? Wow that is quite a leap of faith! I seem to remember whispers of that possibility this year. Why don't we see if all of these freshman, transfers, redshirts, and returning players have some success before we get too crazy. As we all know a player's reputation is no guarantee. See: Hamga, Santee, Massmaba etc. Nobody will be rooting harder than I will but I would hope last season taught us all that expectations mean little. Let's see results first.
Exactly, gumby. You are spot on. As far as Final Four prognostications for this past season? I don't think you ever read that under my byline. But in the next few seasons? I think that's doable, because Chace Stanback is solid and he's relished getting better every day on defense. And Jasper is outstanding. Stoudemire of the Suns was young when he had that microfracture knee surgery and, although it took a while, he came back in fine form. And UNLV has rehabbed him the proper way, very patiently. And Jasper and Willis have known each other for years ... with some serviceable low-post figures, this will be an outstanding team -- especially after playing together for a season. They are knocking on the door, and the sting of this past season, I think, will also serve them very well.
I tell you, Rob, watching Stanback at the opening practice last season, he's going to be a Mtn West POY candidate in 2 years. I thought he looked that good. And, yes, if Jasper's knee is healthy that is one formidable backcourt.
Rob, what's the plan for Rene, Darger, and Adams post Rebeldom? Seems to me that Rene could be a solid glue guy in the NBA if he works on his shot. I strongly dislike Bruce Bowen but it seems like Rene could become a Bowenish player...
salty, sorry for the delay. Was getting confirmation. Seniors from this past season are not taking part in current workouts.
yeah viz, I agree with you. I am way high on Chace. A right-handed Ed O'Bannon. Inside-outside game, strong on the boards, solid mid-range ... etc etc ... I know folks will lean toward mitigating expectations, in the wake of the past season, Beas Hamga, etc ... but Stanback is so consistently good. Imagine Darger with the ability to pump-fake someone out on the perimeter, then take it in strong with a one-dribble power drive. That's Chace.
vegan, not sure about their futures. That's always such a difficult thing, getting with the proper management, coaches, teammates ... Rene is so versatile you'd think he could fit in somewhere. I found it curious that he never scored 20 in a college game. Neither did Mitchell Butler, who I covered at UCLA, yet Butler went onto the NBA for a few years.
I hate to say it about Wink, but he never had a consistent jumper, then he just bulked up a bit too much ... throwing his shot off that much more. This isn't to demean any of them, but, at the least, if Romel Beck and Blassingame can make some coin overseas, so could Rene, Wink and Darger I would think.
Rob, what do you think of C. Lopez? I know you and I watched at Findlay so you have to see he has some game. I think if he can muscle up he will do things we haven't seen here in years at the PF spot. He is like a taller version of Rene with his gung ho attitude about playing. He is very team first.
I am hopeful that Jasper is healthy and we will do well in the non-conference schedule.
I think Jasper will be superb. I know many fans love dunks, and that hasn't been a big part of the squad recently. But Jasper takes it strong to the rim and will demand foes play him honestly. They won't be able to give him a sliver, cause he'll finish with authority. So will Stanback.
And so will Lopez. I've written plenty about him ryph, but you and I have both seen his skills. I particularly like his dervish spin moves down low. I also like how he takes it unflinchingly to the rim. That is not what we've seen in Massamba or Santee. He has some nice bank moves, too, in traffic, which will have to be perfected, as will his free-throw touch.
But he is a winner and expects so much of himself. In addition, he talks. He actually talks. He will shoot out of the gate at UNLV with his mouth yapping, and his guards will love him for constantly calling out picks, switches, etc. More than any of that, though, he is an impressive person. The giant steps he's made over the past three seasons are incredible, and he's going to do well in life. He's smart, engaging and has a strong backbone. It would not surprise me if he starts at least a few games next season.
Unless a very good power forward freshman or transfer becomes available, Kruger should hold onto the last scholarship, otherwise someone will have to redshirt.
As one who followed Jasper through his painful tenure in Kentucky....I hope he lights it up for the Rebels this year!