SPORTS

Four-star point guard commits to Pack

Chris Murray
cmurray@rgj.com

First-year Wolf Pack basketball coach Eric Musselman has made it no secret he wants his team to push the tempo and run and gun. It looks like he's found the point guard to make that desire a reality.

Devearl Ramsey, a four-star recruit and the No. 106 player in the 2016 recruiting class by Rivals.com, committed to play for Nevada on Monday morning. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Ramsey is one of the top point guards in the nation and held offers from Power 5 schools Washington, Texas, Arizona State, Auburn, Cal, Florida State and N.C. State, among others, but instead he will wear silver and blue. He final five included Nevada, UNLV, Pitt, USC and Michigan.

"I really wanted to go somewhere that fit my playing style and where I had the chance to make an immediate impact," Ramsey told Scout.com. "I picked Nevada because Coach Musselman was telling me that I would come in as a freshman and have a big role in the team. It’s a family environment over there and I got really good vibes.”

“Coach Musselman’s experience in the NBA was a big thing, especially since they needed a point guard. I wanted a school that was family oriented and the team seemed really close. It’s a great school. I like that it’s a big coaching staff. They have assistant coaches, managers and an analytics guy. They have stuff other staffs don’t have and him having an NBA background is a bonus.”

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Ramsey, whose lead recruiter was Wolf Pack assistant coach Jay Morris, took an unofficial visit to Nevada two weeks ago and made his commitment official Monday. Playing for Sierra Canyon High, in Chatsworth, Calif., Ramsey averaged 13.4 points, 4.3 assists, 3.6 steals and 3.1 rebounds per game as a junior last season. He shot 48 percent from the field and 36 percent from the 3-point line while leading Sierra Canyon to a 26-4 record and the No. 19 ranking in the nation.

Ramsey scored 13 points as Sierra Canyon beat University High for San Francisco in the California state-championship game last season, which was his school's first state title in basketball.

In 2013, Ramsey played for Team USA in the FIBA Americas U16 Championship and has long been one of the top recruits in his class despite not having ideal size. But Ramsey is a tremendous athlete who has great burst, a good shooting stroke and plays plus-defense. ESPN.com writes of Ramsey:

"There might not be a more relentless point guard in the state regardless of class than Ramsey. He affects the game at both ends with his lock-down defense and burst in transition. He can explode for the dunk or drop off the assist in traffic. He can create space with the dribble and he gets great lift on his jump shot. In addition, his lateral quickness, strength, and active hands are impressive."

Ramsey is the third commitment in Nevada's 2016 class, including Kenneth Wooten, a 6-8, 205-pound power forward from Mateca, Calif., and Arlando Cook, a 6-8, 215-pound prospect from St. Louis who is ranked the No. 4 player in the junior-college ranks this year. Nevada also has a verbal commitment from wing player Trevon Abdullah, a class of 2017 player from Las Vegas' Desert Pines High.

Verbal commitments aren't binding and coaches can't comment on recruitable athletes. Ramsey, Cook and Wooten can sign their binding letters of intent Nov. 11 when the early signing period opens. Ramsey would be the fifth player ranked in the Scout.com, Rivals.com or ESPN.com top 150 to ever sign with Nevada, joining Luke Babbitt, Olek Czyz, Marqueze Coleman and Mark McLaughlin.

“I can bring a competitive spirit,” Ramsey told Scout.com. “I bring leadership, defense and I know I can help change the culture there. I bring a different speed to the game and can play run and gun.”

WOLF PACK COMMITMENTS

Class of 2016

* PF Kenneth Wooten, 6-8/205, Manteca, Calif.: Wooten has all the physical skills you want in a post player and excellent potential on defense. He's a raw player who has a big ceiling as an excellent athlete.

* PF Arlando Cook, 6-8/215, St. Louis: Cook is a four-star recruit and one of the best junior-college players in the nation. He nearly averaged a double-double last year and shot 57.2 percent from the field.

* PG Devearl Ramsey, 5-11/175, Chatsworth, Calif.: A four-star recruit, Ramsey is ranked as the No. 106 player in his class. He's a relentless two-way player who pushes the tempo from start to finish.

Class of 2017

* SF Trevon Abdullah, 6-5/210, Las Vegas: A wing player, Abdullah averaged 12 points and 9.3 rebounds per game as a sophomore and is a strong, slashing type player who could be a great defender.