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twitterUNLV hoops notebook: Rebels court Findlay Prep star
Friday, Jan. 9, 2009 | midnight
Krugerology: Zone Offense
Our newest segment on All In, Krugerology highlights a play in UNLV head coach Lon Kruger's arsenal. This week Coach dissects a zone offense.
TCU Preview
Alex and Rob Miech break down the Rebels' success on the road and Wink Adams' success in the state of Texas.
Killin Time: Rene Rougeau
Christine Killimayer sits down with UNLV senior guard Rene Rougeau.
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Brice Massamba of UNLV gets boxed out by Joey Shaw (left) and Lyndale Burleson of UNR this season at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno.
Findlay College Prep forward Victor Rudd visited UNLV’s practice late Wednesday afternoon and Rebels freshman center Brice Massamba noticed.
“You’re just playing high schools,” Massamba joked with Rudd, who has been a leader for the 14-0 Pilots.
Massamba helped the Pilots finish 32-1 last season, which they capped with a loss in the National Prep Championship in the Bronx, N.Y.
“You’re the Patriots,” said UNLV assistant coach Lew Hill, referring to the NFL team that was undefeated before losing to the New York Giants in the Super Bowl last season.
That only kept Massamba, very likely the most playful of UNLV’s players, quiet for a little while.
Findlay took post-graduate players last season and played against prep-school squads, like Hargrave Military Academy, who also had “fifth-year” prepsters on their rosters.
This season, Findlay stopped that practice and only plays against actual high school teams. That has enabled it to be included in the prestigious USA Super 25 national rankings, in which the Pilots are No. 2.
That also enhances Findlay’s sponsorship deal with Nike, which enjoys seeing one of its schools so highly rated in a nationally respected poll like USA Today’s.
Before another Rebel could introduce himself to Rudd, Massamba said, “You don’t need to know him. He’s nobody.”
Actually, the soft-spoken Rudd is someone who is very important. Massamba might be a little perturbed that the current Findlay squad aims to do something last season’s didn’t –- win a national title.
Rudd hasn’t signed with a college for next fall and his stock keeps soaring with every superlative effort he shows for Findlay.
Pilots coach Mike Peck and assistant coach Todd Simon accompanied Rudd to the Thomas & Mack Center.
René Rougeau and Oscar Bellfield came by to say hello to the 6-foot-7 standout and shake his hand, and assistant coach Lew Hill gave Rudd a bear hug and told him to stay in touch.
Rebels coach Lon Kruger shook Rudd’s hand and made small talk.
Bill Hankins, Rudd’s guardian, said Rudd will likely choose between Arizona, Gonzaga, Marquette, Oregon State and UNLV by the middle of February.
On the (snowy) recruiting trail
A week off between games gave Kruger a chance to get out of town and do some recruiting this week, and he went to Lawrence, Mass., for a Tuesday night game.
He watched Carson Desrosiers, a 6-10, 210-pound junior, score 11 points, grab 17 rebounds, block eight shots and give out three assists in a 67-52 victory over Andover.
Arizona State, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Syracuse and Virginia are among the many schools that have made offers to Desrosiers.
“He and we have to block it out,” Central coach Rick Nault told the Boston Globe about the heavy interest in Desrosiers. “Everyone will be gunning for us as defending state champs, and we need to be focused on the game at hand and at practices.
“He is a level-headed kid and doesn't want to get caught up in the hype and let things interfere with what we are trying to accomplish as a team."
A snowstorm delayed Kruger’s return to Las Vegas, but he still got back to the Thomas & Mack Center in time for Wednesday’s practice –- which started an hour late.
Free throws
To the reader who was curious if Massamba could dunk. Yes, he went in strong Thursday afternoon and easily executed a right-handed jam during a five-on-none drill. Often, he does prefer to convert an easy layup off the glass … Steve “Chopper” Jones nailed a long shot, a couple of steps past halfcourt, just before the buzzer to end another drill. The players and a few attending the practice erupted, and Jones kept galloping off the court and up a tunnel toward the UNLV locker room. Moments later he returned wearing a wide smile as he high-fived many teammates. Former Rebels guard Kevin Kruger, sitting in a front-row seat by the Gatorade jugs, laughed to himself. Yep, Kruger likely will hear about that one for a few days, or weeks. Kruger and Jones were teammates at Arizona State, and Jones lives with Kruger in the home he bought in May … Kevin Kruger went through some drills of his own, with assistant coach Steve Henson and freshman forward DeShawn Mitchell, after practice. He’s hoping to play in the NBA Development League this season, but Lukoil Academic, the team he played for in Bulgaria in the fall, has not released him from his contract.
Discussion: 8 comments so far…
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hey rob, rebels fan from oklahoma here and hope to go to unlv in two years. i was wondering what you know about being a student manager on the team. have you ever written an article about them?
GREAT question! I have not, but that is a RICH topic. I do not know much about that process, but why don't you drop me a line at my e-mail box. miech@lasvegassun.com. I can get some info and see how the process works. And you are right. Those guys do deserve a story. thanks
Rob.
Just want to let you know that I've been a Rebel fan since the days of Ricky Sobers, more years than I want to count. I've been living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for 4 years so I'm just a little out of the scene. Your coverage on behalf of the Sun is better than I've seen in all my many years following the Rebs. I love the little video summary of every game since I don't get to see it any other way.
Thanks and keep up the great work!
(85 degrees in PV today and every day until June 1)
Massamba's talking a lot of smack for a guy who's yet to deliver.
And is it just me or does it seem a little ridiculous to pit a team of players old enough to be in college, against legit high school teams?
I feel you Lenny,
Like I've mentioned before, all this rave about going over to Findlay and watching their 5th year guys walk over teams sounds neat and all, but I'd prefer to go watch prospects such as Mojave's Anthony Marshall get down against good comp. That kid is special for sure, and the game comes so easy for him. These local HS games prove to be better matches then some of the cakewalks Findlay's been having. Don't get me wrong Findlay's played some good schools (Mt. Zion) and I'm excited about Lopez and the possibility of Rudd. Also it's cool to know that Findlay finally got rid of the idea of loading up a roster full of post-graduate 5th year players. But I want to see them really go up against the top HS's in the country, even better bringing them out here to Vegas. Id love to see them play Lincoln HS (Brooklyn), Fairfax (L.A.), Westchester (L.A.), Oak Hill (VA) out here in LV. Better yet, match up against the top schools in the city (Cheyenne, Palo Verde, Mojave, Liberty, Green Valley etc) instead of Canyon Springs"..just my opinion.
Wow, that shows alot of comitment on Kruger's part to go cross country after Desrosiers. Most head coaches don't take the time to do that, especially during the season. I actually have a friend in Massachusetts and he's telling me that Desrosiers is the real deal. I hope we can get this kid, a defensive stopper, although he does need to get stronger. He's probably further along with his game than Joel Anthony was in high school. Both Victor Rudd and Carson Desrosiers would be great additions to UNLV, a better fit with our sytle of play compared to the other schools that have interest in them.
Icr, that is great to hear! Thanks! Glad we can accommodate you. We're all about fresh stuff every day, videos, full on game previews and anything you could possibly want to digest from the games.
Puero Vallarta? You are living the high life, my friend. I was in Acapulco a couple of summers ago and would love to call that home one day. Talk about relaxing. You need to drop me a line sometime (miech@lasvegassun.com) and let me know what everyday life is like there for you. Is it nicer than Acapulco?
Hope you enjoy the Shark Bytes, too. I try to feed him everyone's inquiries and answer them in the order I get them. He loves doing that.
vegasfan, it looks like that 2010 scholly will come down to Desrosiers or Godwin Okonji, the 6-9 power forward from Nigeria who is improving every day at Findlay. Can't go wrong with either.
SMB, I think Findlay playing locals also has somethign to do with those other schools, too. I'll do some digging and figure out just WHO hasn't wanted to play Findlay. Fair?
thanks
Thanks Rob. I think your right on that note too. I've herd that some of the local coaches and schools aren't too fond of what Findlay Prep is doing right in their own backyard. They didn't want to line up against em...Especially when they were playing 5th year kids.
...forgot about the Bishop Gorman game they have though. Now that should be a good local game they have I deff will attend.