Colorado State University Athletics
RamWire: Carvacho comes back to Rams for senior season
5/29/2019 3:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball, RamWire
Center returns healthy and informed
FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- The intention all along was Nico Carvacho would return to Colorado State.
The first-team All-District and All-Mountain West center for the Rams, who led the nation in rebounding at a pace of 12.9 per game, had already received an NBA scouting report on his draft status, where it was determined he would benefit greatly from a senior campaign.
However, there were gains to be found for him – and in effect, the Rams – to declare early and go through some of the pre-NBA Draft process knowing he could always pull his name back. He could gain a better understanding of finding an agent, meeting with teams and getting feedback, all with the knowledge he could return for one last collegiate campaign and use the advice to grow.
"That was very beneficial for me. I was able to basically get the process of becoming an NBA player – my goal, my dream since I was a little kid," Carvacho said. "Being able to go through the process of finding an agent, being able to go through the process I'll do next year, I'll know what to go through. I'll know what questions to ask and what I want to hear.
"It's just getting my name out there even more. People can put a face with a name and with a school. When they're going through games and see Colorado State, they'll know who I am."
Better yet, he had personal meetings with the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers. Much of what he and his group was told was what they already knew – he needs to get stronger, and there are aspects of his game to sharpen.
Medved believes it will only help the player, which in turn, will aid the Rams.
"Nico is our leader and our best player, and anything that allows him to continue to grow and get better, first of all, is good for him," said Medved, entering his second year as the head coach. "No. 2, I think it helps him. I think for him to continue to learn how he can get better and grow … I said all along, I felt he improved during the season last year as much as any player I've ever coached from November to February. I still think he has a lot of room to grow as a player, so my hope is this process will only help him."
The best part of it all for the Rams what was they already knew – Carvacho is coming back.
He led the team in scoring at 16.1 points per game, and his 414 rebounds set a school record as he became just the second player in conference history to surpass the 400 mark. It also made him the program's career rebounding leader with 950, putting him second on the all-time conference list. The combination has led to school-record career 35 double-doubles, 25 coming in conference play to establish a Mountain West standard.
Those numbers are sure to grow. Not only does Carvacho return, he will do so healthy. All the damage he did last season came while he played with a torn labrum and torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder, and he is now 10 weeks out from having reparative surgery.
"I'm in phase three. I have almost full motion back, starting to do more strengthening stuff, dumbbells, band work," Carvacho said. "Hopefully in a couple of weeks I'll start getting back into the weight room and starting to shoot, getting back into the routine of playing basketball.
"Hopefully I'll actually be able to use my left arm now. A lot of times I would defer to go back to my right side, and I'll still do that, but I'll be able to use both hands and shoot now."
His return to health has him excited, but so does having the opportunity of getting an idea of what awaits him as he heads down a professional path. He was attentive toward the feedback and comfortable in the meetings. Now, he has a plan of attack on the court, and a growing confidence of the process in meeting rooms.
Now, all parties are ready to get back to the work of improving on a 12-20 season, 7-11 in conference play.
"It's really fun when you get to coach upperclassmen and older guys. Hopefully he's getting everything he wants out of this experience," Medved said. "I think he's a Hall of Fame player at CSU, and this is a legacy he can leave here. At the same point and time, he's got a bright future after this, a chance to play professional basketball. He will get paid to play professional basketball, it's just a matter of what level that's going to be at. If he continues to grow and get better the way he has simply in the year I've coached him, I think he's just going to continue to get better and the sky's the limit.
"It's a win-win for everybody."
For more RamWire content, click here.
The first-team All-District and All-Mountain West center for the Rams, who led the nation in rebounding at a pace of 12.9 per game, had already received an NBA scouting report on his draft status, where it was determined he would benefit greatly from a senior campaign.
However, there were gains to be found for him – and in effect, the Rams – to declare early and go through some of the pre-NBA Draft process knowing he could always pull his name back. He could gain a better understanding of finding an agent, meeting with teams and getting feedback, all with the knowledge he could return for one last collegiate campaign and use the advice to grow.
"That was very beneficial for me. I was able to basically get the process of becoming an NBA player – my goal, my dream since I was a little kid," Carvacho said. "Being able to go through the process of finding an agent, being able to go through the process I'll do next year, I'll know what to go through. I'll know what questions to ask and what I want to hear.
"It's just getting my name out there even more. People can put a face with a name and with a school. When they're going through games and see Colorado State, they'll know who I am."
Better yet, he had personal meetings with the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers. Much of what he and his group was told was what they already knew – he needs to get stronger, and there are aspects of his game to sharpen.
Medved believes it will only help the player, which in turn, will aid the Rams.
"Nico is our leader and our best player, and anything that allows him to continue to grow and get better, first of all, is good for him," said Medved, entering his second year as the head coach. "No. 2, I think it helps him. I think for him to continue to learn how he can get better and grow … I said all along, I felt he improved during the season last year as much as any player I've ever coached from November to February. I still think he has a lot of room to grow as a player, so my hope is this process will only help him."
The best part of it all for the Rams what was they already knew – Carvacho is coming back.
He led the team in scoring at 16.1 points per game, and his 414 rebounds set a school record as he became just the second player in conference history to surpass the 400 mark. It also made him the program's career rebounding leader with 950, putting him second on the all-time conference list. The combination has led to school-record career 35 double-doubles, 25 coming in conference play to establish a Mountain West standard.
Those numbers are sure to grow. Not only does Carvacho return, he will do so healthy. All the damage he did last season came while he played with a torn labrum and torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder, and he is now 10 weeks out from having reparative surgery.
"I'm in phase three. I have almost full motion back, starting to do more strengthening stuff, dumbbells, band work," Carvacho said. "Hopefully in a couple of weeks I'll start getting back into the weight room and starting to shoot, getting back into the routine of playing basketball.
"Hopefully I'll actually be able to use my left arm now. A lot of times I would defer to go back to my right side, and I'll still do that, but I'll be able to use both hands and shoot now."
His return to health has him excited, but so does having the opportunity of getting an idea of what awaits him as he heads down a professional path. He was attentive toward the feedback and comfortable in the meetings. Now, he has a plan of attack on the court, and a growing confidence of the process in meeting rooms.
Now, all parties are ready to get back to the work of improving on a 12-20 season, 7-11 in conference play.
"It's really fun when you get to coach upperclassmen and older guys. Hopefully he's getting everything he wants out of this experience," Medved said. "I think he's a Hall of Fame player at CSU, and this is a legacy he can leave here. At the same point and time, he's got a bright future after this, a chance to play professional basketball. He will get paid to play professional basketball, it's just a matter of what level that's going to be at. If he continues to grow and get better the way he has simply in the year I've coached him, I think he's just going to continue to get better and the sky's the limit.
"It's a win-win for everybody."
For more RamWire content, click here.
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