To go or not to go, that is the question

No, for those of you with minds below the belt, this post has nothing to do with bathrooms and the various actions that take place there. For you cultural posers, no, the blog title above didn't come from the pen of Willie Shakes. Close but nyet.

It's all about JaVale McGee and whether or not he should remain in Reno or start cashing major checks in The Big Show. He is nowhere near polished nor ready for major minutes in the NBA -- relying pretty much on his amazing physical gifts to fill up a boxscore rather than any technical proficiency, especially offensively. Plus, he needs 30 more pounds and an accompanying upgrade in strength.

But the primary question just may be what is in his best interests? Is it to remain in the college ranks where he won't be challenged to the degree he needs by matchups in practice and also rarely so in actual games? Or does he land a nice professional contract and be challenged on a daily basis but while rarely seeing time on the court for at least the first season, maybe two?

Pack basketball: McGee is long on potential, could be bound for NBA
Steve Sneddon
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
March 5, 2008

He is a work in progress, far from complete, but he offers tantalizing glimpses of his future.

JaVale McGee has already established himself as an amazing shot blocker. At times, he's like a hockey goaltender swatting away shots. Unfortunately, there are times game officials are pretty sure he's goaltending and call him on it.

Still, McGee is having one of the best shot-blocking seasons of any player in program history. He leads the Western Athletic Conference in blocked shots at 2.79 per game (which ties him for 13th in Div. I). With 81 blocks, he is 15 shy of the Nevada single-season record set by Edgar Jones in the 1977-78 season.

McGee is averaging 13.6 points and 7.1 rebounds as Nevada prepares to close its regular season at Fresno State on Saturday night.

"The big fella, when he plays, he's probably the most imposing guy in the conference," Boise State coach Greg Graham said.

It was a compliment. There was no doubt about it. But it also was a recognition that the 7-foot, 237-pound McGee is not always the same imposing player game after game. That's part of being a work in progress for McGee, who as a freshman found himself in the sizeable shadow of three-time WAC player of the year Nick Fazekas.

Fans watch McGee and imagine what he will be like as a junior and senior at Nevada. Scouts look at him and wonder if he might declare for the NBA draft in June, though they are far from sure he will do it.

McGee appeared on the NBA's radar before a 106-70 loss to then-No. 1 North Carolina in December, but when he had 14 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots in that game, he became larger than a blip on the screen.

"I think about (the NBA) a lot, but I have a season to play," McGee said...

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