A preview of Nevada men's basketball 2007-2008

Here we go with our latest update on Nick Fazekas-less Nevada 2007-2008.

Nevada Coach Mark Fox is now going to better understand how the rest of the teams in the WAC have felt for some time. Fox is losing Nick Fazekas -- which would be devastating for many teams by itself -- but also standout point guard Ramon Sessions, plus two other starters in top defender Kyle Shiloh and outside shooting small forward Denis Ikovlev.

This is major. No, actually make it major minus, four major minuses.

Luckily for Fox, senior Marcelus Kemp pulled out of the NBA draft and will be the the Wolf Pack go-to guy in 2007-2008.

Here's who else Fox has returning:

Lyndale Burleson point guard 6-3 190 junior. Burleson is the new point with Sessions' departure. Sometimes, players rise to the occasion -- other times, greater expectations and responsibility prove to be a heavy burden. Regardless, with Burleson now projected to both start and play 30 minutes or so a game, his previously expected 2007-2008 role will need filling by someone else. However, there's no player on the current roster who immediately comes to mind to do so. This will be interesting to watch as the season plays out -- Burleson is not as good or productive a player as Sessions and it just may be the same for the player or players who step up to fill Burleson's old role. (Note: Burleson is now academically ineligible for the first semester)

Brandon Fields shooting guard 6-4 185 sophomore. Fields was primarily a scorer in the prep ranks and will have a golden opportunity before him in the upcoming season to earn much greater court time. He is also seeing some time at the point so far in the pre-season.

Marcelus Kemp wing 6-5 210 senior. On the plus side, Kemp, who averaged 18.5 ppg. last season will easily go above 20, maybe 25, in 2007-2008. Also look for Kemp to have 200 or more shot attempts than any of his teammates. But he'll have to work much harder for his points because Fazekas won't be present to draw the attention of defenses, and passer deluxe Sessions will also be absent. Kemp's assist to turnover ratio, not exactly an enviable one at 82 assists to 98 turnovers, will also probably decline due to having to carry a greater offensive load for his team. It's going to be an interesting time because scouts will want to see a more well-rounded game from Kemp -- one of the primary reasons he withdrew from the NBA draft -- but the heavy offensive load he will need to bear may just prevent him from developing or demonstrating other aspects of his skills set. Regardless, there's no doubt he's a first-team WAC selection and a player-of-the-year candidate.

Tyrone Hanson wing 6-6 195 sophomore. The most impressive stat he posted in his initial season was shooting 13-27 from three-point range. However, he shot better from three-point land than overall and was a virtual stranger at the foul line, going just 0-2 on the season. He may very well be who Fox turns to for upgrading the firepower of his rotation. Hanson should be Kemp's eventual replacement.

Richie Phillips power forward 6-7 220 sophomore. He redshirted as a true freshman and saw but 44 minutes of court time this past season. Deemed 'explosive and powerful' coming out of high school, he has yet to match the expectations. He recently injured his leg and is out for six or so weeks.

Matt LaGrone power forward 6-8 215 sophomore. Known more as a rebounder coming out of high school, he's a role player best suited for complementarily working in the shadows of others.

Demarshay Johnson power forward 6-9 210 senior. Johnson redshirted last season due to academics. A native of the East Bay and an excellent leaper, he's a top shotblocker and decent rebounder but his offensive skills remain raw.

JaVale McGee center 6-11 225 sophomore. McGee enjoyed the best situation of all rookie initiations, subbing for Wolf Pack great Nick Fazekas. Like Johnson, McGee is extremely unpolished offensively, scoring on dunks and putbacks. He shot 60% as a frosh but his free throw making, 16-34, indicates his weakness at the line and anywhere out of the paint. He's the best shotblocker on the team and possesses very good potential.

David Ellis center 7-1 222 senior. He's never been the power in college that he was in the prep ranks, mainly due to lack of strength and bulk. Ellis can score in the paint and is decent from the foul line but lacks the physical prerequisites to earn a starting spot.

Here's Fox's recruiting class:

Malik Cooke forward 6-5 190 freshman (North Carolina HS). Cooke is a wing/small forward. Here's Fox on him: "He is a long, athletic player who can finish. He also has a real knack to get to the glass. I really wanted a true small forward, and he is a good one."

Armon Johnson shooting guard 6-3 190 freshman (Nevada HS) Johnson is a big time scorer but as an incoming freshman he will need time to adjust to the collegiate level of basketball. He is also seeing time at the point early.

Ray Kraemer guard 6-4 200 sophomore (Texas JC) He had verballed to Weber State but ended up working out a better offer and landed in the WAC -- Donald Trump would be proud. Kraemer was named the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year and earned first-team all-conference honors as a freshman in 2005-06 after averaging 18 ppg. and grabbing 8.3 rpg. He also shot a nifty 42% on his three-point attempts. He did not play in 2006-07 due to a shoulder injury and will have three years of eligibility remaining at Nevada.

Here's our take for a Wolf Pack starting five in 2007-2008:

center - JaVale McGee
power forward - Demarshay Johnson
wing - Marcelus Kemp
shooting guard - Ray Kraemer
point - Lyndale Burleson

Nevada is coming back to the pack, pun intended, in 2007-2008. It's highly unlikely Mark Fox's squad will again shoot 48% from the floor as a team, out-rebound opponents by seven a game and have 116 more assists than the opposition.But as we have posted earlier, he has major reinforcements coming in next season with two top 100 prepsters and a darkhorse point from the Texas high school ranks.