The Nevada Sagebrush

Nevada center JaVale McGee is a mama’s boy – his mother, Pamela McGee, says so.

JaVale might not want to admit that – and you can laugh all you want – but it’s one of the reasons the 7-foot sophomore is emerging as a star for the Nevada men’s basketball.

Pamela McGee was an All-American at USC. While winning two national championships, she helped Team USA win the 1986 Olympic Gold Medal, and she also won a WNBA title with the Sacramento Monarchs. JaVale spent much of his youth in a stroller with his nanny just off the court.

Pamela, now a coach, has also been involved with honing JaVale’s game since she coached his Amateur Athletic Union team when he was 9.

“She’s one of the main reasons I started playing,”JaVale said.

The genetics and knowledge of the game have paid off. McGee is averaging more than 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocks per game in his second season with the Wolf Pack.

With a 7-foot-5 wingspan and uncanny leaping ability, McGee’s made a habit of pumping up the Nevada crowd by throwing down thunderous dunks and blocking shots higher than the box on the backboard.

His explosiveness with the ball in his hands creates matchup problems for opposing players, as does ability to step back and hit the occasional 3-pointer.

Former Nevada forward Nick Fazekas said many times last season that McGee was the most talented player on a team that produced two NBA Draft picks.

“I’m just trying to get better,”McGee said. “I know what to do and what not to do. I know what to do and I’m trying to put it in the game.”

“The key for JaVale will be developing some consistency,”Nevada coach Mark Fox said. “He’s a much improved player.”

McGee scored his first double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds against UNLV on Nov. 24. He’s scored double figures in four of six games and registered six shots in two games.

“I saw the Memphis game last year and you could tell,”said Seattle Pacific Jeff Hironaka, who watched McGee score 29 points on 13-of-16 shooting in an exhibition game before the season. “When you’re 7 foot tall and you can put on the floor as well as he can and move as well as he can, in my mind, and obviously this is predicated on potential, obviously he’s a future pro. At that size with that wingspan, and the ability to shoot like he can, all you have to do is throw it up and he can go get it. He’s got a bright future here.”

Part of McGee’s versatility comes from his training. Aside from his natural skills, Pamela trained McGee with a European approach.

Instead of being drilled on post moves when he was young, as many American big men are, Pamela put the ball in McGee’s hands and taught the fundamentals of playing on the perimeter.

“When I knew he was going to be tall, being a post player myself, I understood learning how to play outside and learning to come inside rather than starting inside and going outside,”she said.

Pamela also played a major roll in JaVale’s recruitment.

When Fox first emailed her about recruiting McGee, Pamela politely let the coach know Nevada wasn’t on his list. Fox kept sending emails, and Pamela finally agreed to let him fly to Chicago to watch him practice.

When Fox showed up at the gym in a suit, when all the other coaches were wearing more casual team gear, Pamela liked his style and granted him a home visit.

“Coach Fox, he really worked hard,”Pamela said. “I felt that he really had my son’s best interests at heart. No matter how many times I told him no, he just kept recruiting him.”

Pamela and McGee took a chance on Fox and, in turn, Fox has embraced Pamela’s knowledge of the game.

“Ms. McGee is a tough woman,”Fox said. “She’s won it all. She understands how to be a winner.”

So far the deal has worked out for both teams.

The Wolf Pack got a dominant inside player with huge potential and McGee found a program known for developing players.

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