PROVO -- BYU men's basketball coach Dave Rose today announced the completion of the team's roster heading into the fall with the addition of Vuk Ivanovic (pronounced VOO-k e-VAHN-oh-vich), a 6-foot-11 forward/center from Serbia and Montenegro.
From Pancevo, near Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro, Ivanovic played the last two years at Seton Hill University, an NAIA school in Greensburg, Pa. He averaged 8.9 points and five rebounds while shooting 56 percent from the floor to earn All-American Mideast Conference Honorable Mention recognition this past season. He helped Seton Hill achieve a 20-8 record and 10-4 conference mark and advance to the AMC Championship game in only the program's second year of existence. Before playing at Seton Hill, Ivanovic prepped at Uros Predic High School in Serbia and Montenegro.
Due to transfer rules, Ivanovic must sit out the 2005-06 season. He will practice with the team as a redshirt junior this season and then have two years of eligibility remaining. Ivanovic fills the roster void created in June when power forward Garner Meads announced he would be unable to continue playing basketball because of the ongoing recovery process from his injuries.
"We look forward to having Vuk in our program," Rose said. "He is a skilled big man who will help us. Even though he has to sit out this season, he will contribute to our success this year while furthering his development in practice. I look forward to working with the players on the team as we prepare for the upcoming season."
The BYU roster includes 14 student-athletes consisting of eight perimeter players and six post players. With the addition of Ivanovic, BYU has nine juniors on the roster; although it is possible another junior could join Ivanovic as a redshirt in 2005-06. Including 2004-05 newcomers Trent Plaisted and David Burgess, who are applying for medical redshirts, four Cougars will be freshmen in eligibility and one -- returning walk-on Brock Reichner -- will be a senior.
Seven lettermen return from last year, including four players with significant starting experience in juniors-to-be Austin Ainge, Keena Young, Jimmy Balderson and Derek Dawes. An honorable mention All-MWC guard, Ainge led BYU in assists and was the second-leading scorer last year, while Young was the team's top rebounder. Balderson made the Canadian National Development Team this summer and is currently representing his country at the World University Games in Turkey. Junior guards Mike Rose and Sam Burgess also return along with Reichner. Rose made seven starts and averaged 7.7 points in 19 minutes per outing while leading BYU with 56 treys.
"We have a good core from last year and we'll see how the new guys push the returning players," Rose said. "I'm very excited about our coaching staff. Our team will play with a lot of passion. I expect us to be very competitive."
Plaisted and David Burgess will compete for playing time this year along with freshmen newcomers Lee Cummard and Jackson Emery and junior transfers Rashaun Broadus and Fernando Malaman.
The 2005-06 BYU roster and roster breakdown is included below:
BYU Men's Basketball
2005-06 Roster
No.Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Exp.Hometown/Previous School
1 Rashaun Broadus G 6-0 195 Jr. TR Waianae, Hawaii/Western Nebraska CC
2 Mike Rose G 6-2 185 Jr. 2L Houston, Texas/Spring Woods HS
3 Keena Young F 6-6 205 Jr. 1L Beaumont, Texas/South Plains College
4 Jackson Emery G 6-3 175 Fr. HS Alpine, Utah/Lone Peak HS
10 Vuk Ivanovic C/F 6-11 260 Jr. TR Pancevo, Serbia and Montenegro/Seton Hill Univ.
12 Brock Reichner G 6-4 205 Sr. 1L Provo, Utah/Salt Lake Community College
13 Austin Ainge G 6-2 180 Jr. 2L Gilbert, Ariz./Highland HS
15 Fernando Malaman F 6-9 215 Jr. TR Limeira, Brazil/Arizona Western College
20 Sam Burgess G 6-3 190 Jr. 1L Alpine, Utah/Snow College
23 Jimmy Balderson G 6-6 200 Jr. 2L Magrath, Alberta/Magrath HS
30 Lee Cummard G 6-6 175 Fr. HS Mesa, Ariz./Mesa HS
34 David Burgess C 6-10 265 Fr. RS Irvine, Calif./Woodbridge HS
43 Derek Dawes C 6-11 275 Jr. 2L Salt Lake City, Utah/Cottonwood HS
44 Trent Plaisted F 6-11 240 Fr. RS San Antonio, Texas/Clark HS
Head Coach: Dave Rose, 1st year (Houston, 1983)
Assistant Coaches: Dave Rice (UNLV 1991)
John Wardenburg (BYU 1986)
Walter Roese (BYU-Hawaii 1994)
Director of Basketball Operations: Terry Nashif (BYU 2005)
Team Trainer: Robert Ramos, 4th year (BYU, 1995)
2005-06 Roster Breakdown
Starters Returning (4)
Name Pos. Yr. 2004-05 Stats
Austin Ainge G Jr. 9.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.1 apg
Keena Young F Jr. 7.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg
Jimmy Balderson G Jr. 6.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg
Derek Dawes C Jr. 4.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg
Starters Lost (3)
Mike Hall G Sr. 13.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg
Jared Jensen C Sr. 8.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg
*Garner Meads F So. 4.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg
Other Letterwinners Returning (3)
Mike Rose G Jr. 7.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg
Brock Reichner G Sr. 2.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg
Sam Burgess G Jr. 2.1 ppg, 0.9 rpg
Other Letterwinners Lost (2)
**Chris Miles F Fr. 2.7 ppg, 2.3 rpg
#Joshua Burgess F Jr. 0.6 ppg, 0.4 rpg
Redshirts Returning (2)
##David Burgess C 6-10 265 Fr.
##Trent Plaisted F 6-11 240 Fr.
Newcomers (5)
Rashaun Broadus G 6-0 195 Jr.
Lee Cummard G 6-6 175 Fr.
Jackson Emery G 6-3 175 Fr.
'Vuk Ivanovic C/F 6-11 260 Jr.
Fernando Malaman F 6-9 215 Jr.
* playing career ended due to injury, staying in school to finish degree
** Leaving school to serve a two-year LDS Church mission
# walk-on player decided to discontinue playing, staying in school to finish degree
## medical redshirt application pending
' must sit out the 2005-06 season due to transfer rules