The Long Beach State men’s basketball team opened its 2010-11 season over the weekend with its first set of official practices in the Goldmine and Walter Pyramid.
One thing was evident from the get-go: The 49ers will rely heavily on their returning players this season.
The team’s core, and likely starting five, features Big West Conference first-team selection T.J. Robinson, Casper Ware and Larry Anderson. Also in the mix are junior Eugene Phelps and senior Greg Plater.
Of this season’s newcomers, junior transfer Edis Dervisevic looks the most ready to contribute immediately. The 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward also showed an intangible in the team’s first practice on Friday. In the three-hour session, Dervisevic made his presence known as a vocal leader on the floor.
After the departure of Donovan Morris two years ago, the 49ers have struggled to find a player who can command attention in a huddle the way Morris did in his time at The Beach.
That’s not to say Dervisevic will definitely be that player, but it is certainly a change of pace from Monson’s last two recruiting classes.
One of the more anticipated debuts on Friday was that of the 49ers’ only incoming freshman recruit, Nick Shepherd. While the 6-foot-9 big man didn’t have the best practice, he did display an eagerness to participate and willingness to learn.
It was obvious in the initial practice that Shepherd is a raw talent, but dude can jump out of the building.
The Missouri City, Texas native doesn’t possess the offensive skills to have an immediate influence, but Shepherd’s biggest impact should be on the defensive side.
His leaping ability and size give him an instant edge against Big West competition. At 215 pounds, Shepherd has the prototypical body type for a Big West post player, which could translate to the shot-blocking center that LBSU hasn’t had for some time.
There’s no doubt that Shepherd will be a project for head coach Dan Monson, but if handled the right way, he could prove to be a difference maker down the line.
Although Dervisevic and Shepherd offered glimpses of what could be, it was evident that there’s a gap between the veterans and less experienced players at Friday’s practice.
Monson knows what to expect from the trio of Robinson, Ware and Anderson. But, it is the other two — Phelps and Plater — that might have the most to prove once the season gets going.
Phelps has shown flashes of being a difference-maker, with his most notable performances coming in back-to-back wins over Cal State Northridge and UC Davis last season. The 6-foot-6 forward scored 18 and 21 points, respectively, in those games.
The Beach went 3-1 in games in which Phelps was the leading scorer last season.
Plater, however, has the most pressure going into the season as the only proven outside threat on the 49ers’ roster. After setting the LBSU freshman 3-point record, Plater took a back seat to Stephan Gilling the past two seasons.
The 49ers have a core of players that can get to the NCAA Tournament, but unless somebody else steps up it could make for a long season.
LBSU’s first test will come at home Nov. 13 against a San Diego State team that many believe can go deep in the tournament, meaning the 49ers don’t have any time to waste.
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