Call me Preacher LaGrone

Well, we certainly didn't know this...

Pack's LaGrone balances life as a minister, basketball player
Steve Sneddon
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
February 20, 2008

His teammates call him preacher or bishop, and he smiles.

Long before Matt LaGrone decided to play college basketball, he knew where he was heading -- and that was into the ministry. He has been a minister in the Garden of Gethsamine Church, where his father is the bishop, since he was 13 years old.

The younger LaGrone combines playing basketball for Nevada with his duties at the church in a downtown office building on Second Street, giving a sermon the fourth Sunday of every month. The church is affiliated with the International Churches of Praise.

"It's not that hard because they're both my lifestyle," LaGrone said. "They just go together for me. When I play, I'm playing for an audience. God is in that audience."

The 6-foot-8, 230-pound sophomore has played in 25 of the Wolf Pack's 26 games, as it prepares to play at Southern Illinois in a BracketBuster game Saturday. LaGrone, who is averaging 2.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in 13.2 minutes per game, hadn't missed a game until a bruised back kept him out of the Idaho game last week. He's expected to play against the Salukis...

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