By Chris Parker
Nevada boys basketball will have some holes to fill coming off a 16-win campaign. The Tigers graduated a pair of all-conference seniors from last season’s team. They will also be without senior Jack Cheaney for most, if not all, of the season as he recovers from a knee injury sustained last summer.
It will fall to a multitude of players to replace the missing production.
“We have to understand that one person doesn’t replace production alone, it is a team effort, and everyone has to step up and expand their roles and production,” Nevada head coach Shaun Gray said. “If we all try to play to the best versions of ourselves, we can once again be very competitive.”
Kellen Braden (junior point guard), Mason Majors (junior shooting guard), Gabe Smith (senior forward), Alex Ast (junior forward) and Jett Snyder (junior forward) lead the returning players.
Braden averaged 7 points, 3.1 rebounds. 2.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game last season.
“Kellen is a cerebral player who makes everyone around him better,” Gray said. “He does everything well and is a coach on the floor for us. His defense sets the tone for us as well.”
Majors contributed 3.8 points per game as a sophomore.
“Mason is a dynamic shooter with a quick release,” Gray said. “He will look to expand his game to also include scoring around the basket for us.”
Smith scored 5.6 points per game to go with 2.7 rebounds per game.
“Gabe is a do it all player that can play guard or forward,” Gray said. “He shoots the ball well and is also physical around the basket. He can handle the point guard spot when needed and can also guard in the post, that versatility will help us have a more varied attack at both ends of the floor.”
Ast will look to expand on his 2 points and rebounds per game.
“Alex is a very physical player that can play all five spots on the floor at both ends,” Gray said. “He is working to expand his shooting range and has been hard to guard during the off season. He looks to play an expanded role for us this year.”
Snyder saw action in 11 games last year.
“Jett is another athletic versatile defender that can guard multiple positions,” Gray said. “He is very bouncy and can get things done around the rim for us.”
Look for Sean Simmons (junior forward), John Collins (sophomore forward), Montgomery Palmer (senior guard), Dustyn McIntyre (sophomore forward), Drew Miller (junior guard) and Brady Barnes (junior guard) to make impacts as newcomers to varsity.
Gray on Simmons: “Sean is strong physical player that sees the floor well. His length allows him to help us defend and rebound and he is working to become a more well-rounded offensive player.”
Gray on Collins: “John is an elite athlete that excels in the open floor and at attacking the basket. He can also guard multiple spots defensively.”
Gray on Palmer: “‘Gummy’ is a spot up shooter that can make shots in in bunches when he has time to spot up and get set.”
Gray on McIntyre: “Dustyn is a long rim protector who has taken a big leap offensively this offseason. He has the potential to make a big impact for us on both ends of the floor with his defense as well as his three-level scoring potential.”
Gray on Miller: “D and 3 guy that is solid in all phases of the game for us.”
Gray on Barnes: “Brady has the potential to be a spark creator off the bench for us and is athletic enough to be a very good perimeter defender as well.”
Versatility will be a strength for this team.
“Our versatility and ability to guard people with multiple bodies and in multiple looks should be a huge plus for us,” Gray said. “We are also a very unselfish team that doesn’t care who gets the credit and they all want to play hard for one another, that togetherness will be a huge asset for us well.”
Gray will look for his team to clean up its rebounding and ball handling.
“Last year we struggled to rebound the ball consistently, and at times were a little sloppy with the basketball,” Gray said. “Being strong on the glass and also being less careless with the basketball will both be areas we look to sure up going into this season.”
Nevada opens the season on Dec. 3 at home against Carthage.
“We always look to January and February as when we want to be playing our best basketball,” Gray said. “We don’t get caught up in wins and losses but rather we focus on having a growth mindset and being destination minded. If we show growth throughout November and December, then we feel like going into conference play in January we can be competitive with anyone on our schedule. This group’s main goal is to leave it all on the floor and play with an energy that our community can be proud of and to do it with class and integrity.”
