Beavers sport new look with `two-year team'.

Byline: Steve Mims The Register-Guard

CORVALLIS - If you can't tell the Oregon State players without a program, give it time.

"We're looking at this as a two-year team," second-year OSU coach Jay John said.

With no seniors, the Beavers' current roster should be together through the end of the 2004-05 season. There are six newcomers - five eligible to play this season - and the lone returning starter is sophomore point guard Lamar Hurd.

John was the new guy last year when he was hired to replace Ritchie McKay, but few players on the team have been around longer than the coach. During his year and a half on the job, John has recruited nine of the 14 players.

"A year ago at this time, there was uncertainty in a lot of areas," John said. "How would the coaches be? We didn't have a strength trainer a year ago at this time, but now we have both of those things behind us. The kids have a real idea of what we stand for and what we are trying to become."

John guided the Beavers to a 13-15 record last season, but nearly 70 percent of the offense came from departed seniors Philip Ricci, Brian Jackson and Jimmie Haywood, as well as Floyd North III, who transferred following the season.

So just who joins Hurd in the starting lineup when OSU opens the season with an exhibition game against EA Sports on Nov. 11?

"I'd have to say they all have to prove it," John said. "Some guys certainly on paper seem like they are ready for that. David Lucas should evolve and emerge into a full-time starter. He is our leading returning scorer in Pac-10 play, but nobody else has proven it over the course of an entire season. With six new guys, I think the only fair thing is for guys to go out and earn it."

Hurd played more minutes than any OSU player last season and was an honorable-mention selection to the Pac-10 all-freshman team. He averaged 6.4 points and 3.8 assists per game.

"He needs to do more and he should be able to do more," John said. "Lamar understands what is ahead of him. He needs to demonstrate an improved ability to score and be more of a vocal leader."

Lucas, a 6-foot-7 junior forward from Tigard, was not much of a factor during nonconference games last season, but he averaged 7.1 points and 3.6 assists in Pac-10 play.

"We want him to be able to score with consistency as a starter as he did off the bench," John said. "If getting more minutes would increase his stats as a scorer and rebounder, that will help fill the void from some of the departures from last year. David can put the ball in the basket, and we've got to have that in order to be successful."

Oregon State returns 6-11 posts Derek Potter and Kevin Field, but those two have not yet become significant contributors for the Beavers. John said both have improved their conditioning, and he hopes that helps them become bigger factors on the court.

In the backcourt, J.S. Nash and Chris Stephens return after playing being significant reserves last season, along with Vic Remmers.

"Those guys are one year older with a more clear vision," John said. "The thing for all those guys is now they know who I am and what we are trying to do. We talk about taking control of your own success, but that is hard to do if you don't know what the plan is or how people want you to do things. With David, J.S., Chris, Lamar, Derek and Kevin, for all of those guys, there is no reason why they should not have improved as athletes and improved their conditioning, so their performances should improve."

John said he has not decided if any of the veterans or newcomers will redshirt. Guard Jason Fontenet, a junior transfer from New Mexico State, must sit out this season, but four freshmen and one junior college transfer could contribute.

Junior Jim Hanchett, a 6-6 forward from Utah Valley State, could make the biggest impact among the new players.

"Jim has emerged into a team leader," John said. "He is the strongest player on our team and he is a competitive kid. He brings a lot of intangibles, he's an excellent rebounder, he's unselfish and he has a knack for scoring around the basket."

Here's John's assessment of the freshman class:

6-9 forward Kyle Jeffers: "He has a good basketball IQ. Kyle will find a way to play significant minutes this year. The combination of his IQ and competitiveness, he is not afraid of a challenge."

6-7 forward Kenny Hooks: "You never know how freshmen will make the transition into things, but Kenny has a world of ability. He is long and athletic. I like his attitude and his approach to stuff."

6-2 guard Angelo Tsagarakis: "Angelo can shoot. You've got to guard him."

7-2 center Liam Hughes: "He keeps getting better each day, he has improved so much in the two weeks of individual work and in the summer in strength and conditioning."

John will plug the players into the system he installed last season.

"We recruited to a style, we are committed to try and develop a program that will play as fast as our talent will allow us to play," John said. "Kids like to play it, fans like to watch it and I like to coach it. I want to try to go up and down, and team speed is something we have improved on, so let's try to run."