‘Hungry’ Rebels debut with opening practice

Derrick Jasper, Anthony Marshall and an impressive group of newcomers debuted Friday as UNLV opened the basketball season with a late-night practice at the Thomas & Mack Center.

An estimated crowd of 4,500 was greeted by an old favorite -- Larry Johnson, arguably the greatest player in Rebels history.

UNLV coach Lon Kruger tipped off the event by introducing Johnson, who received a loud ovation before addressing the fans.

"Johnson came in the locker room to talk to us, and I don't know how to describe it. It was just a great feeling," said Marshall, a freshman guard from Mojave High School. "He talked about the old days. He's a real cool person.

"I came out and ran through the tunnel, and it was pretty exciting. I've been waiting for this for a long time, so I'm glad it's finally here."

Johnson will return next month for a 20-year reunion. The Rebels' 1990 national championship team will be honored Nov. 10, when UNLV plays Washburn (Kan.) in an exhibition game.

Kruger's optimism about the season is in contrast to how the Rebels left things in March, when they finished 21-11 with a loss at Kentucky in the National Invitation Tournament's opening round.

"Generally speaking, when a team doesn't make the NCAA Tournament one year, the players come back hungrier, and this team has certainly done that," Kruger said.

After the graduation of team leaders Wink Adams, Joe Darger and Rene Rougeau, the Rebels' top returning scorer is junior guard Tre'Von Willis, who was voted preseason All-Mountain West Conference first team.

Jasper, a 6-foot-6-inch point guard, also will have a major influence. Jasper redshirted last season after transferring from Kentucky.

When the players lined up for a 20-minute scrimmage, Jasper, Willis, sophomore guard Oscar Bellfield, senior forward Darris Santee and junior forward Matt Shaw started on the White team.

The Black team starters were Marshall, senior guard Steve Jones, junior guard Kendall Wallace, sophomore center Brice Massamba and 6-11 forward Carlos Lopez, a freshman from Findlay Prep. Freshman guard Justin Hawkins was the first substitute.

Chace Stanback, a sophomore who transferred from UCLA, did not play because of a minor left ankle injury.

Kruger expects to use Jasper, Willis and Bellfield frequently in a three-guard lineup. Stanback can play guard and forward spots.

"I think we all bring a little different quality to the game," Jasper said. "Oscar can shoot it and drive it. Tre is a great scorer. Chace is a big guard, but he can play the 3 and 4 (positions). I just play defense and try to lead this team. I plan on scoring, too. We have some players who have potential to be great scorers."

Jasper and Bellfield are natural point guards, something that could lead to more running when they are on the floor together.

"When we're both on the court, whoever gets the ball goes with it," Jasper said. "We have players who are really good at pushing the ball."

Bellfield made three 3-pointers in the scrimmage, which ended 39-38 with Shaw blocking Wallace's driving shot that would have won it at the buzzer. "Was it goaltending?" Wallace said.

Santee and Massamba showed improved post moves, creating hope the Rebels could have a stronger inside presence this season.

Jones, a transfer from Arizona State, and Santee are UNLV's only seniors, and Jones is one of the team's most vocal players.

"We're just really hungry, and we really want to erase the memories of last year," Jones said. "When you have a sour end to a year, it burns in your brain the whole offseason. We're not pleased with how things ended, and we don't want a repeat performance."

• NOTES -- UNLV recruit Erik Swoope, 6-5 forward from Harvard-Westlake High School in North Hollywood, Calif., attended practice. ... Two local walk-on guards have been added to the roster: Tyler Norman from Faith Lutheran and Mike Martinez from The Meadows.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.