MHERST - The close losses have been the toughest for University of Massachusetts freshman Raphiael Putney.

As he's watched those games from his permanent seat on the UMass bench, Putney wonders if he could have grabbed the rebound or made a defensive stop that might have turned the game around.

"I think, 'Man, I could have had that stop or that rebound,'" said the freshman from Woodbridge, Va.. "I'm more long and athletic than a lot of people on my team."

But for now, that long 6-foot-8 athletic frame can only watch the games.

Because Putney arrived on campus at just 180 pounds, he, his father Richard Putney and UMass coach Derek Kellogg decided it would be in the player's best interest to redshirt his first season in Amherst to get stronger and heavier. They agreed that his potential impact as a fifth-year senior in the 2013-14 season was much higher than it would have been this year.

"Coach Kellogg and my father talked a lot," Putney said. "Then coach had a conversation with me about what redshirting would do for me. My dad said it would work out well for me in the future. I didn't take it as a negative. I just kept working. I think that's how I've gotten through the season so far. It was very disappointing at first. But I still need some work."

So he's spent the year watching, practicing, lifting weights and most of all eating.

"More than five times a day. Not just five meals, five big meals," Putney said laughing. "I just have to continue to eat. There's always going to be questions about my weight. I just don't worry about it and keep eating."

Keeping the weight on has been a challenge as the rigors of practice keep burning off the calories he's trying to pack on.

"I'm trying to get to 190," he added. "It's frustrating. During the season I put weight on and I lose it. It goes up and down.

"In the off-season I need to gain that weight," Putney said. "I've gotten a lot stronger actually. I can take contact more than I used to. Instead of people bouncing me around, I can bounce people around."

Kellogg said he thought Putney's ability to continue on that path would decide just how good he becomes.

"He may have the most potential on the team. He's 6-foot-9 and has a 7-foot-5 wingspan. He does have a unique skill set," Kellogg said. "Can that translate into a major college game at this physical level? That's the big question mark. If it can, he has a chance to really help us."

Right now, Putney's frame is similar to two other memorable skinny Minutemen, Marcus Camby and Stephane Lasme. But Putney's game is different from the those UMass players who were eventually NBA draft picks. In fact Putney's game doesn't really resemble any recent Minuteman.

While Putney does have shot-blocking potential, he refers to himself as a 6-foot-10 two guard, adding an inch to his listed height. In practice, he shoots 3-pointers as well as almost any of his teammates.

Kellogg said pigeon-holing Putney into one position might be too restrictive.

"I think he can play anywhere from the two to the five. I don't know how quickly," Kellogg said. "But some day I'm envisioning him not really having a position and if he has to bring the ball up he can and if he has to be a center he can do that. He has one of the top 3-point strokes on our team."

Putney aimed high when listing who he modeled his game after. "I look at Kevin Durant and Tayshaun Prince," said Putney. "They're long, athletic, slim and like to block shots."

Kellogg said he's not ready yet to expect that much from Putney.

"I don't want to put that kind of pressure on him. We're talking about a guy who was national player of the year as a freshman," Kellogg said. "Could he be a poor man's Kevin Durant in three or four years? Maybe."

For now, Kellogg has challenged him to be the practice player of the year, forcing him to defend anyone from guards Ricky Harris and Anthony Gurley to center Sean Carter.

"A lot of people don't realize how long and athletic he is," Harris said. "In practice coach always puts him on me because other teams always put taller guys on me.

"He gives me fits every day because he's so long," he added. "He's been great. I can't wait to see how he's doing next year."

However, Kellogg has spared Putney the task of guarding one teammate.

"The only person I don't guard is City," said Putney in reference to 6-foot-10, 270-pound teammate Hashim "Big City" Bailey. "He's just too big. Other than that I get switched off from the point guard to the five spot.

"Coach tells me I have to be the best one on the floor in practice at all times," he added. "Sometimes I am, sometimes I'm not. There's a lot of good players on the team."

With his redshirt campaign winding down, Putney is looking forward to next season when he has a chance to be the best player on the floor during games.

"The season is coming to an end soon. I've served my time," Putney said.

"It's almost time for me to get on the court to start helping my teammates."

Matt Vautour can be reached at [email protected]. Follow UMass coverage on Twitter at twitter.com/GazetteUMass. Get UMass coverage delivered in your Facebook news feed at http://www.facebook.com/GazetteUMassCoverage.