We think we've identified a Nevada recruiting target

Putting two and two together sure seems to add up to four in the following:

Pizza shop helps Wolf Pack woo recruit
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette Journal
April 24, 2008
http://blogs.rgj.com/pack/

Trying to pinpoint exactly which players the Nevada Wolf Pack basketball staff is recruiting is kind of like trying to find that preverbal needle in the haystack. With Nevada coaches unable to comment on recruits by NCAA rule, calls to junior college coaches, high school coaches, former Wolf Pack players and recruiting gurus have all failed to turn up any names linked to the Wolf Pack. Turns out we were just calling the wrong people. We needed to call a pizza shop: Big Apple Pizza in Sparks to be precise. I'll explain.

One of our RGJ photographers was at Big Apple when the restaurant received a call from the Wolf Pack. Turns out the team was looking for a "Serbian pizza" for a recruit who was flying into town Wednesday. So, Jeanine and Todd Morgan, owners of Big Apple, had the task of dining the Wolf Pack's big recruit.

Neither had made a Serbian pizza before, so they started with a couple of Google searches and a call to a Moscow deli in an attempt to figure out how to create such a pizza. The resulting delicacy had two layers of dough, feta cheese, mozzarella, salt, pepper, egg, cream, garlic, olive oil and lime juice. The pizzas were made and Jeanine made the delivery to the university, where she said there were three Wolf Pack recruits -- two Americans and one Serbian. And guess what? The Serbian was a big guy.

"I said, 'Stand up buddy,'" Jeanine said. "He gets up and he just keeps rising and rising and rising. He had to be at least 6-foot-9. He spoke good English, too." Sounds like a possible JaVale McGee replacement. On her drive back to the pizza shop, Jeanine said she got a call from Wolf Pack assistant coach Doug Novsek. "They called and said the pizza was amazing," Jeanine said. "They said the recruit was very pleased."

So at least we know the Wolf Pack is recruiting a Serbian big man ... and he likes pizza.

So with such knowledge in mind, we then just happened to come across this and put things together (although having Nevada listed in the article as a school that is interested didn't exactly tax our thinking cap):

UK seeks Serbian big man
Jerry Tipton
April 22, 2008
http://ukbasketball.kentucky.com/

A native of Serbia who possesses the highly-prized skills of size and shooting ability.

Kentucky had such a player on a recruiting visit earlier this week. Nicola Kecman, a 6-foot-9 native of Belgrade, Serbia, made an official visit to UK Sunday to Tuesday. His coach at Eastern Arizona College noted Kecman’s perimeter shooting ability, which figures to increase in value given the three-point line being extended farther from the basket next season.

“That’s an advantage he’s going to have,” said Tim Walsh, the interim coach at Eastern Arizona on Tuesday. “Given the line he’s used to shooting from, being an international kid, I don’t think it’ll effect him at all.”

Kecman made 59 percent of his shots this past season. He shot with about 46 percent accuracy from three-point range, the coach said. Kecman averaged 13.3 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for a team that finished with a 30-6 record. He is scheduled to visit Ohio State next weekend. Such schools as Nebraska, Iowa, Nevada, Kansas State, St. John’s and Fresno State also expressed interest, Walsh said. “He’s a very skilled player,”

“He shoots the ball very well,” Walsh said. “He’s a four-man (power forward) who can shoot the basketball. He can run the floor. He’s got a good feel for the game. And he’s a mature kid. With him, you can spread the floor and extend the defense.”

Kecman will have three seasons of eligibility remaining, provided his academic transcript passes inspection by the NCAA Clearing House.

Walsh vouched for Kecman’s ability to speak English. “A language barrier was non-existent,” Walsh said. A college choice should come within two weeks, the Eastern Arizona coach said. Kentucky began recruiting Kecman about a month ago, Walsh said.

UK has a couple of connections: Walsh has known UK Coach Billy Gillispie “for a long time,” and one of Eastern Arizona’s assistants previously played for UK assistant Jeremy Cox.

Here's another description of Kecman on the court:

"...Kecman is a high major for a couple of reasons. He has 3 years is 6-9 and skilled. He is a system guy that will hit open 3's score some inside and for the most part defends well. He is not a good rebounder and will never be but he does a good job of blocking out and keeping his man off of the glass..."