Dragovic has shot to play, but it’s tied to improving his defense

As UCLA was working on its zone offense this week at the one practice a year where media are invited, it was hard not to notice the textbook jump shot, quick release and confidence of Nikola Dragovic.

The 6-foot-9 sophomore forward from Serbia is something of a mystery piece to the UCLA puzzle. He was a late signee by Coach Ben Howland 18 months ago, and Dragovic had his rookie season in Westwood disrupted when the NCAA ordered him to serve a 10-game suspension because he played on a Serbian club team that included professionals.

The suspension set Dragovic so far back -- especially on defense -- that he played only 26 minutes in six games and seldom when the outcome was in doubt.

“I hope that’s different this year,” Dragovic said after the practice. “I worked hard this summer and I think I understand about the defense now too.”

Dragovic spent the summer in Serbia, where he worked out with the Serbian national team. He also had a double hernia operation, the effects of which still hamper his jumping.

“I’m still recovering,” Dragovic said, “but it was something that needed to be done.”

Howland was non-committal when asked if Dragovic is earning himself more playing time.

“We’ll see,” he said. “He’s getting better. He’s expected to shoot, against zones in particular, and he causes real problems for a team trying to zone because of his understanding of spacing. And he is doing a pretty good job defensively, by far better than a year ago.”

After the first week of practice, Howland said freshman Chace Stanback was struggling, which is fairly typical for rookies acclimating to rough and tumble Howland workouts.

But now Stanback is playing more comfortably and starting to shoot better from the perimeter. “He’s learning quick, he’s getting better,” Howland said.

Stanback, who played at Fairfax High, is “still learning what a good shot is and what a bad shot is,” Howland said. “Part of it is strength. The thing is, he’s a freshman going against all veterans on the perimeter.”

Stanback said he realized quickly that the moves he considered power moves in high school don’t work as well now.

“Everybody weighs about 20 pounds more than they used to,” he said. “I’m working at getting stronger and that will make a big difference.”

Howland has made it a point to praise the progress of his other freshman, Kevin Love.

This week, Howland emphasized how Love was 15 of 25 from the field in a scrimmage last Saturday and had also had 14 rebounds.

UCLA is one of five schools with two players on the Wooden Awards preseason candidates’ list. Guard Darren Collison and forward Josh Shipp are among the 50 nominees.

North Carolina (Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson); Kansas (Mario Chalmers; Brandon Rush); Washington State (Derrick Low; Kyle Weaver); and Georgetown (Roy Hibbert, Jonathan Wallace) also have two.

USC center Taj Gibson is also on the list. The Pacific 10 Conference has 10 candidates, more than any other conference.

Howland will be inducted into the Boys & Girls Club of America Hall of Fame tonight at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

diane.pucin@latimes.com