Jasper still recovering but ‘revved’ for team workouts

By Rob Miech

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 | 2:10 a.m.

UNLV point guard Derrick Jasper has relished being cleared for full-contact workouts since the end of the basketball season.

“He’s revved up and ready,” said Rebels coach Lon Kruger.

Still, Jasper’s regimen is tempered and likely will be for a while. Last week, after taking part in a full workout he sat out the next one to recuperate.

That’s the tedious challenge of coming back from microfracture surgery, the delicate procedure Jasper required on his left knee before his 2007-08 season at Kentucky.

“One day he might play, then he’ll stretch or shoot the next day,” Kruger said. “We’re still a long way from the start of the season, so it’s a matter of caution than total disregard of the injury.

“We’ll see how he feels come August, September and October. We’d like to think he can fully recover and be injury-free. Everyone is a little different.”

Collegiate coaches have been able to run their teams through practices for two hours a week. Kruger has had them practice an hour twice a week and for 40 minutes three times a week.

That ends Wednesday, when players can be put through the paces in individual workouts of no more than four Rebels per session for a couple of weeks.

During the team sessions, Kruger and his assistants have mostly tutored half-court work that has focused on individual breakdowns, mechanics and shooting.

It’s been mostly three-on-three, with some five-on-five drills, at the Cox Pavilion practice gym.

It’s been invaluable to Jasper, who sat out all season after transferring from Kentucky.

Unlike forward Chace Stanback, who bolted from UCLA but was able to practice full-time against the Rebels’ regulars on the UNLV scout squad, Jasper never took part in the full-speed runs.

Often, he was in rehabilitation with either trainer Dave Tomchek or strength coach Jason Kabo. Usually, Japser worked on his 3-point shot when he arrived at practice.

Sometimes, he ran laps with teammates before practice.

A few times at the Cox gym, he finished long shooting sessions with power jam after power jam. Once, assistant coach Lew Hill implored Jasper to quit shooting, so he didn’t overextend himself.

Hill had to demand that Jasper bounce him the ball.

Jasper, who turned 21 on Monday, will be a junior next season.

“He’s still kind of recovering,” Kruger said Monday. “He hasn’t played live, really, in a year. He’s anxious to get out there and get going. Rehab has gone well, and he’ll continue that for the next several weeks and into next season.

“He has to hold back throughout rehab. It can be a little frustrating, I’m sure. But he’s handling it well. He’s worked hard, and rehab is a part of it. He’s doing a lot of extra shooting and he’s very anxious.”

Kruger hasn’t noticed a particular incident in which Jasper has been hesitant with a move, twist or jump on his left leg, but that wouldn’t be unnatural.

“I’m sure, in his mind, there are moments where there are reservations,” Kruger said. “Coming off an injury like that, I think there’s a little trust factor or questions about going full speed.

“There will be some soreness after going full speed one day, then he won’t go full speed the next day. So he’s not full speed, every day, without regard.”

Kruger and his assistants have seen the player they scouted in Paso Robles, Calif., in Jasper over recent weeks.

His instincts and understanding of the game, and his feel for teammates are all very good, Kruger said.

“He’s always been a team-first guy,” Kruger said. “And he’s very unselfish. He competes really hard. All those things, he’s doing in a very positive way.”

Wide-open lineup next season

As far as projecting next season’s lineup – with Jasper at the point, Tre’Von Willis at shooting guard and Stanback at forward – Kruger, as usual, does not want to get ahead of himself.

With the departure of senior starters Wink Adams, Rene Rougeau and Joe Darger, and reserve Mo Rutledge, minutes will be available. How they will be dispersed, according to Kruger, remains to be seen.

“There could be a lot of combinations, at this point,” Kruger said. “We have no idea who the starting five will be. There will be so many new guys … it will be wide open.

“I think that’s part of the intrigue with next season, and part of the concern is the uncertainty of who’s going to be in there, who will win spots and minutes. That’s healthy, exciting competition.”

Pilots and Lopez dominate

One of the new players next season will be 6-11 center Carlos Lopez, a Puerto Rico native who has spent three seasons at Findlay College Prep.

Lopez helped the Pilots win the inaugural ESPN RISE National High School Invitational two weekends ago in Maryland.

“That was great,” Kruger said. “I’m really happy for ‘Los’ and his teammates and the program. I didn’t get a chance to see much, but what I did see they were clearly the dominant team. They distinguished themselves.”

Fore

Kruger is finalizing plans with his second Coaches vs. Cancer golf tournament, which will be played June 1 (at Southern Highlands) and June 2 (TPC Canyons).

A silent auction and live entertainment will highlight a kick-off event at 7 p.m. on May 31 in the 10,000-square-foot Hardwood Suite at the Palms. It costs $100, and cocktails and food will be served.

Fans will be able to mingle with some of the coaches who will play in the tournament, which will include Jim Boylen (Utah), Dana Altman (Creighton), Frank Martin (Kansas State), Bill Grier (San Diego), Mike Montgomery (California) and Heath Schroyer (Wyoming).

Former UNLV star Greg Anthony also has confirmed that he will participate.

All proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.

“Always drink a lot of water,” Kruger said of golf in Las Vegas in early June, “and stay as cool as possible.”

Kruger has been so busy he hasn’t been able to hit any balls at the driving range. Maybe this week, he said.

He and his wife, Barb, have plans to attend weddings of family friends’ children this offseason in Florida and Kansas, but there are no plans for an extended vacation in any exotic destination.