Hunt verbally commits to Pack hoops

Nevada's signing class for the 2008 basketball season is down to one after Dario Hunt, a power forward from Charis Prep in Goldsboro, N.C., made a verbal committment to the Wolf Pack on Thursday.

Hunt is expected to sign a letter of intent with the Wolf Pack today.

Hunt, a 6-foot-8 power forward, chose Nevada over Long Beach State, which started late in recruiting him. As late as the start of April, there were rumors that Hunt was being recruited by Big Ten power Wisconsin.

Hunt joins 6-6 wing player Joey Shaw, 6-7 power forward Luke Babbitt from nearby Galena High, point guard London Giles and 6-5 shooting guard Mark McLaughlin as the newest Nevada players. Nevada's recruiting class has drawn some nice reviews nationally.

Hunt averaged 16.1 points and 15.3 rebounds this season. Charis Prep recorded a 43-3 record this season. All told, seven Charis Prep players are expected to land Division I scholarships.

Hunt's coach, Carlos Peralta, said that Hunt's natural position is power forward, but unless Nevada gets somebody bigger, he could be forced to play some center, too.

Even with Hunt, the Pack still lacks big people up front.

Right now, the frontcourt includes the oft-injured 6-7 Richie Phillips, 6-8 Matt LaGrone, 6-7 Luke Babbitt and 6-5 Malik Cooke, who is built like a wing player, but plays like a power forward because of his ability to rebound, especially at the offensive end. The only other player on the roster over 6-7 is walk-on Adam Carp.

One player who Nevada had some interest in was Serbian-born Nikola Kecman, a 6-9 power forward from Arizona Eastern College who recently signed with Ohio State.