Matt LaGrone leaving Nevada

Boy did this come out of left field. The odds-on fave to be Nevada's starting center next season is departing from Reno and headed to Corvallis (Oregon State University) to try his hand at football.

Although it surely sounds like it, no, we are not making this up.

As usual Chris Murray is on top of this:

Pack's LaGrone transferring to Oregon State to play football
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
June 13, 2008

Nevada Wolf Pack power forward Matt LaGrone often played basketball as if he was on a football field with his physicality and brute force.

Now, he is really taking his game to the gridiron.

LaGrone said Thursday he is leaving the Wolf Pack basketball program to play football at Oregon State, where he will join his younger brother, Josh, who redshirted last season with the Beavers.

Prior to his freshman season, LaGrone said the university promised his family that he would be allowed to play football and basketball during his junior and senior seasons with the Wolf Pack.

LaGrone said the football staff consented to him joining the team this offseason, but Nevada basketball coach Mark Fox and athletic director Cary Groth both said he would not be able to play both sports... Go here for the remainder.

Plus,

Loss of LaGrone leaves questions
Chris Murray
Reno Gazette-Journal
June 13, 2008

There never really is a dull day in the the world of Wolf Pack basketball. If it's not JaVale McGee, Marcelus Kemp and the NBA draft, then it's a former player like Kirk Snyder visiting town. And if it's not a former player visiting town, it is a current player leaving town. That was the big news Thursday with Matt LaGrone leaving Nevada to play football with his younger brother, Josh, at Oregon State.

LaGrone explained his decision to leave Nevada to me in Thursday's edition. That story was more focused on why the junior-to-be was leaving the program, so I will use this space to look at what this means on the court for the Pack next season. The first big question that arises is whether Nevada coach Mark Fox will immediately fill LaGrone's scholarship or pocket it so he has at least two next season. That depends on just who remains available on the recruiting trail.

But the larger looming question is, "Who will play down low for the Wolf Pack?" In my projected Wolf Pack starting five awhile back, I had LaGrone starting at center. Well, that's not exactly going to work anymore. And with the loss of JaVale McGee, Demarshay Johnson and David Ellis, there won't be many returning players to the Pack's frountcourt. So here are the Wolf Pack players fighting for playing time in the post. The list includes three freshmen, one sophomore and a junior who has played only 67 minutes of college ball...

Go here for the remainder.