Rebels have new weapon — in a returning player

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Brice ÒTruckÓ Massamba spent the summer in Sweden lifting weights, conditioning and keeping his diet in check.

Massamba, sporting a new Mohawk hairdo, appears to have honed himself into a 6-foot-9, 240-pound weapon.

The sophomore is excited by his teammatesÕ play during the first few days of practice.

ÒWe look pretty good, defense-wise,Ó Massamba said. ÒWeÕve been killing people on offense, too. WeÕre much quicker than last year. And we have more heart, it feels like.Ó

But Massamba has been the revelation. Nimble and mobile, heÕs been showing off power moves from the elbow and flashing left-handed shots. And he still sets the most devastating screens on the squad.

ÒWhen he sets it, you donÕt want to run into that,Ó Rebels assistant coach Lew Hill said. ÒThatÕs why heÕs the Truck.Ó

Shedding 40 pounds from a little more than a year ago has increased the TruckÕs agility.

ÒHe has such a good feel for the game,Ó UNLV coach Lon Kruger said. ÒLast season, without that mobility or any vertical play, he couldnÕt take advantage of his feel for the game.

ÒThis year, heÕs moving a lot better and heÕs making good plays. WeÕre real excited about the direction heÕs headed. He still has a long way to go, but I think he feels much better about what heÕs getting accomplished and the direction heÕs going.Ó

Hill added, ÒSo many people were down on him, but he was a freshman. The growth and development is the journey that makes it beautiful. If they donÕt see the reward after one year, they beat him up.

ÒAs a freshman, you barely play. As a sophomore, you start coming around. As a junior and senior, youÕre really good. HeÕs no different.Ó

Look at Louis Amundson, Joel Anthony and Gaston Essengue, Hill said, as examples of big men who made steady progress under Kruger and ended up playing key roles.

ÒCoach Kruger makes you better,Ó Hill said. ÒHe teaches you É Each year they get better, thatÕs what is so fun. ItÕs about letting these kids grow and develop.Ó

Rob Miech can be reached

at 948-7847 or at miech

@lasvegassun.com.