UNLV Basketball

As the 2012 recruiting period heats up this summer, there are a bevy of positions that the UNLV Runnin' Rebels are looking to fill for 2012 and beyond.

One of those has been filled with 6'1" point guard DaQuan Cook's commitment to UNLV.

Cook hails from the Baltimore, MD area and played his high school ball at St. Frances Academy. He is a point guard who is able to light up the score board.

Cook's arrival in 2012 will give him the opportunity to play behind junior guard Oscar Bellfield next season, allowing him to learn the ropes of the college game. Bellfield and Cook's games are similar in the sense that each can distribute the ball effectively but also possesses the ability to score at will when the team needs it.

According to ESPN.com, Cook (a two-star guard with an 85 rating out of 100) is at his best when he doesn't force the game and lets the game come to him.

ESPN.com also compared Cook to a young Sam Cassell, and noted that he does get the ball to his bigs down low—who are in a better position for a quality shot—as opposed to taking long, contested jumpers.

Although he possesses a great mid-range game, he needs to get his three-point shooting up to par, and also needs to work on being more efficient on the defensive end.

Cook chose the Rebels over the University of South Florida, Temple and the University of Washington.

We all can run long, hard and fast. But what we ultimately cannot run from is the brevity of life.

Yesterday, former UNLV Runnin' Rebel Armen "the Hammer" Gilliam's run through life ceased tragically at the spry age of 47.

A member of Jerry Tarkanian's era of dominance from 1973-1992, Gilliam helped lead the Runnin' Rebels to a 37-2 record and the 1987 Final Four. That year, he set a single-season record for most points scored in school history, with 903.

After hearing the news, Gilliam's former coach, Tarkanian, said, "In my ratings, I had Larry Johnson No. 1 and Armen No. 2." But the best thing about his former player was that "he was such a gentle person and such a caring guy." 

The well-rounded 6'9" forward was drafted 2nd overall in 1987 to the Phoenix Suns, ahead of players like Scottie Pippen, Kevin Johnson and Reggie Miller.

That season, the low-block bruiser set an early precedent as an All-Rookie Team member. He averaged 13.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in his two-and-a-half seasons with the club.  

A trade in 1989 for Kurt Rambis and a draft choice sent the hardworking forward to the Charlotte Hornets. From that point on, despite a 13-year career, he never flowered into the kind of stardom people expected.

His journeyman role with the Suns, Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Utah Jazz came to an end in 2000, after he amassed career totals of well over 12,000 points and 6,000 rebounds.

In 2005, the former Runnin' Rebel prodigy attempted a return to basketball with the new ABA, playing one season with the now-defunct Pittsburgh Xplosion. The then 41-year-old posted All-Star numbers of 23.8 points and 9.1 rebounds a game. He retired a second time from the sport in 2006.

Gilliam currently ranks sixth in UNLV school history for points scored. His No. 35 jersey was retired in 2007, joining the likes of former Rebels Larry Johnson and Stacey Augmon.

Former UNLV Runnin' Rebel basketball and NBA journeyman Armon "The Hammer" Gilliam passed away Tuesday night at the age of 47.

Gilliam passed away playing the game that gave him many fans and worldwide exposure. Gilliam was playing basketball at a local gym in Pittsburgh,PA when he suffered a heart attack and later died at St. Clair Hospital.

One of a few players in UNLV history to have their jersey raised to the rafters of the Thomas and Mack Center, Gilliam was known as one of the Runnin' Rebels all-time greats and was given his nickname "the Hammer" at UNLV for his attacking, bang-up style of play.

Gilliam was part of the Jerry Tarkanian led UNLV team that went onto win 38 games and a No. 1 ranking and eventually lost in the 1987 Final Four. The Hammer is the seventh leading scorer in UNLV history and also set the single season scoring record for the Rebels, racking up 903 points during the Final Four run in 1987.

Gilliam's former coach at UNLV Jerry Tarkanian told the Las Vegas Sun that, "I'm all shook up," and went on to say "He was such a great person. He would take the shirt of his back for you."

Gilliam was drafted as the No. 2 overall pick in the 1987 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns. Gilliam also spent time with the Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks and Utah Jazz in his 13-year NBA career that ended in 2000.

Another summer and another legal woe facing the UNLV Men's Basketball team.

This past Friday night Chace Stanback, UCLA transfer and UNLV's top returning player—who leads all returning players in scoring and rebounding—was pulled over for speeding near his off-campus residence and eventually arrested on suspicion of DUI charges.

This comes on the heels of last summer's legal hoopla that Tre'von Willis faced after allegedly choking a woman and then taking her cell phone so she could not call for help.

Now the attention turns to incoming head coach Dave Rice and what if any disciplinary actions he might hand down to Stanback.

Back in 2008, UNLV then-sophomore guard and local Las Vegas talent Marcus Lawrence was let go from the team by former coach Lon Kruger when he was arrested on DUI charges. His case was a little more severe due to the fact that Lawrence wrecked his car not far from the UNLV campus and fled the scene.

Stanback's punishment will not be that severe, but the Rebel faithful are now left to ponder what will happen to one of UNLV's best returning players. The punishment handed down to Willis drew fierce scrutiny when he was suspended for four games total, but included the teams two exhibition games.

With the same fans waiting to see what coach Rice will do, I expect there to be a suspension of somewhere between two and five games.

The UNLV Rebels have the rest of the summer to work through the problem and await his August 11th court date. Hopefully it's is just a minor bump in the road before a season that has the Rebels destine for greatness.

As the newly appointed UNLV head coach filled the final spot on his coaching staff, the UNLV faithful couldn't be more happier. Former UNLV great and NBA veteran Stacey Augmon finalized a deal to become Dave Rice's third assistant coach, rounding out his coaching staff.

"I am excited about coming back to UNLV," Augmon said in a statement released by UNLV "I am looking forward to working with Coach Rice and the rest of the staff. It will be great to be back in the city where we were part of a dynasty. I want to thank Jim Livengood and President Smatresk, along with Coach Rice for bringing me back. I am anxious to get started working with the young talent that is currently on the team and to help take the program to the next level."

A vital part of the 1991 Runnin' Rebel team that won the NCAA national championship, there is a buzz in the air now that one of UNLV's favorite sons is home and ready to help lead UNLV to similar success he created as a player.

Third on UNLV's all-time scoring list, Augmon was known just as much for his stiff defensive play as he was for his scoring abilities. He parlayed his collegiate success to a long NBA career that ended in 2006.

After his retirement Augmon joined the Denver Nuggets coaching staff as an assistant coach in 2007. He was one of the first names that popped up as a possible assistant coach once Dave Rice was hired, but waited until the Denver Nuggets were eliminated from the playoffs to make an official decision on whether to join the coaching staff at UNLV.

Augmon is expected to focus on developing players on the defensive end and will be a strong factor in recruitment, being that he has deep NBA ties not only has a player but as a coach as well.

Augmon joins the other UNLV coaching staff members consisting of associate head coach Justin Hutson—who came over to UNLV after a successful stint at San Diego State as an assistant coach—and Heath Schroyer, former Wyoming Cowboys head coach.

UNLV now has one of the strongest coaching staffs in the nation and should have an upper hand in recruiting compared to that of former UNLV head coach Lon Kruger—who left UNLV to coach the Oklahoma Soooners.

Hutson is known as one of the strongest recruiters on the west coast—largely responsible for bringing Billy White, Malcom Thomas and projected NBA lottery pick Kawhi Leonard to San Diego State. Considering the combination of Augmon's NBA ties and Dave Rice's plan to be a run-and-gun team, recruiting at UNLV should be ten-fold better than the Kruger era, which was know to miss out on top tier recruits and thrive off transferring players.

The future for the UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball program is looking as bright as ever. Having Stacey Augmon back in the mix has the Rebel Nation buzzing over how far these Rebels will run.

First-time head coaches are sometimes leery of surrounding themselves with talented assistant coaches.

They fear that if they struggle the university will have an easy fix because they can replace them with someone right off of the staff. 

Dave Rice is not that type of person.

His coaching staff is made up of an up and coming coach in Justin Hutson, a former head coach in the Mountain West in Heath Schroyer and a popular former player, Stacey Augmon.

In addition to those hires, one of the candidates for the Director of Basketball Operations is former interim head coach Jay Spoonhour.

These moves also put the burden of the offense almost solely on Rice's head. Schroyer and Hutson both have defensive backgrounds and Augmon was known for his defense during his UNLV career.

Although, Augmon was also a very good offensive player and I am sure he will have a lot to teach the players on both sides of the ball.

This staff also almost certainly signals a shift towards an more heavy emphasis on high school recruiting.

Rice was the recruiting coordinator at BYU and Justin Hutson held the same position at San Diego State. Those two were responisble for bring in possible lottery picks Jimmer Fredette and Kawhi Leonard.

Schroyer has east coast recruiting ties and Augmon's NBA coaching experience can help lure players who have hopes of an NBA career.

Add to this Dave Rice's up-tempo style of play and those who have been crying out for more high school recruiting are sure to be pleased.

I like what Rice has done so far. It says that he is not intimidated by the position. I like that he is not afraid that his staff will out shine him.

Enjoy this staff UNLV fans, Augmon's and Hutson's stays will not likely be long ones. Hopefully, Dave Rice will be.

On April 11, 2011 at 4 p.m., former Runnin' Rebel player and assistant coach for UNLV and BYU Dave Rice was announced as the new head coach of UNLV, replacing Lon Kruger. It was an exciting day for the older Rebels faithful as well as the new scarlet and grey bloods in the board room at the Thomas and Mack Center.

I attended the press conference and here's what I gleaned from it.

Athletic director Jim Livengood announced Rice as the "right fit at the right time, having an outstanding resume, excellent leadership abilities and passion both on and off the court."

All local media was well represented as well as the Board of Regents, president Neal Smatresk, coach Jerry Tarkanian, Brad Rothermel, all athletic department personnel, current and as ex-players, ex-politicians and a bevy of Rebel supporters from around the city.

Dave Rice said, "It is a great day for UNLV, it's family and that it's all about the Runnin' Rebels and not about myself."

He stressed many times his appreciation for Tarkanian and all he learned from him as a player on two Final Four teams in 1990 and 1991, the National Championship team in 1990, as well as his tutelage as an assistant when Tark approached him after graduation and told him, "I think you can become a great coach some day."

Coach Rice quickly mentioned that Justin Hutson, assistant coach from San Diego State, has already been signed to a contract and was the one of the best recruiters in the Southern California areas. He also served as the great defensive mind of the top-10 ranked Aztecs this year limiting opponents to 58.6 points per game and 39 percent shooting.

Also on his list of potential staff members is former UNLV great and current Denver Nuggets assistant Stacey Augmon. He was called immediately, but had a major concern of how soon he would have to be in Las Vegas as he wanted to stay with his team as they gear up for the NBA playoffs.

In his moderate in length, yet humble speech, Rice commented on his reasons for coaching instead of following the path of his master's of business administration degree that he earned and he mentioned that he, "Loves the competition, but mainly I love the impact I can have in the young men's lives as my coaches had in me."

He felt that it was very key to build a strong, trusting relationship with the players now, that they are a great group of kids that have a ton of hard work ethics and effort and was very appreciative that they showed for the press conference.

Rice also expressed a deep need to "build upon the tradition that Coach Kruger had left behind," and then answered the question that thousands of Rebel fans alike have been asking: What will be the style of play?

His response: "We're going to get out and run—everything will be up-tempo. It will be Runnin' Rebel basketball. We will defend as hard as we can on one end, then push as fast as we can to the other. But most importantly, we want to be consistent."

Again he modestly thanked the coaches he had been under at UNLV and that he was "humbled by all the people in the room and am very excited to be back at UNLV and in Las Vegas."

Dave brings with him to Las Vegas his wife Mindy who graduated from UNLV and their two sons, Travis, 13, and Dylan, 8.

He closed his first oration as a head coach in Division I men's basketball by saying, "It is our program, not mine. I am just a caretaker and honored to be a part of Runnin' Rebel basketball again."

Afterward he was asked a few "softball" type questions by the media then convened for some one-on-one interviews and an even larger fan-appreciation event held next door at the Cox Pavillion, where around 300-plus UNLV fans were introduced to their new head coach.

I personally feel that Dave Rice has an excellent chance to succeed here and brings a lot of game knowledge, experience and zeal to a program that has been left full and ripe by the previous coach Lon Kruger.

There will not be much of a honeymoon period for Rice as this program has been in the top-30 nationally for the last five to six years and returns a plethora of starters, talent and incumbent recruits.

The staff that he assembles will be critical to his prosperity and Rice has already taken a huge step in that direction with his first hire and those already contacted.

His plan of bringing back the life-blood and roots of the very foundation that built this school into a national basketball powerhouse with the amoeba defense and fast-break offense will not only excite the players and fans for years to come, but recreate the Runnin' Rebels of lore and vault them to a higher level of distinction. 

According to numerous local sources here in Las Vegas—Ryan Green, Las Vegas Review Journal, Las Vegas Sun and CBS Sports—Dave Rice has agreed to be the next head coach of the men's basketball team at UNLV.

The race came down to two names, Rice being one and the other top candidate Reggie Theus. Theus played for the Rebels in the mid-'70s while Rice was a backup player on the 1990 championship team.

Both were excellent choices for the job with plenty of coaching experience themselves, though Rice has yet to hold the official title of head coach. He has spent the last 18 years on college coaching staffs at UNLV and BYU and during Dave Rose's recent illness in Utah, Rice served in the head coaching capacity.

The best question to be asked now: Will he be able to assemble a high quality staff of coaches to take this program to the next level? The likes of Stacey Augmon, Justin Hutson and Larry Johnson all can add great experience, leadership and recruiting ability.

Though Jerry Tarkanian was stronger proponent for Theus, he recently said about Rice, "He's a really sharp guy and a good person."

Quoted by Matt Youmans of the Las Vegas Review Journal:

The potential candidate pool included several high-profile names, including former Rebels great Larry Johnson and coaching legends Larry Brown and Bob Knight.

Rice and Theus were always considered the front-runners, though St. John's assistant Mike Dunlap and former Oregon coach Ernie Kent also made Livengood's list of four finalists.

"Jim has played it real, real close to the vest," Rothermel said. "Everything else being equal, and it is, you should take somebody who has strong UNLV ties.

"I know David very well, and he'll do as good a job as those of us who support him help him do. We have to get resources for him so he can recruit and do the things he needs to do to win."

For more on this you can check out these local Las Vegas Media outlets:

Las Vegas Review Journal

Las Vegas Sun

After a week of rumors and speculation, the UNLV Runnin' Rebels finally have their coach, and it's Dave Rice according to CBS Sports.

The opening ultimately came down to the choice of former UNLV players, Dave Rice and Reggie Theus. Rice had been the name that everyone threw into the favorite category almost immediately. It is expected to be made official tomorrow at a press conference at UNLV.

During the week long search, a heavy list of names came out of the woodwork expressing interest in the job. From Bob Knight to Larry Brown and even UNLV's favorite son Larry Johnson.

Rice is a great fit for UNLV. He likes to run an up-tempo style of offense which UNLV faithful have been looking for the Rebels to return to ever since Tark left the program.

Rice's brother, Grant Rice, is the head coach at Bishop Gorman High, a Las Vegas high school that UNLV is looking at to grab a few top recruits for the 2012 season, including top 10 prospect Shabazz Muhammad.

(Update: Rice is already on the ball as far as compiling his coaching staff. According to multiple media outlets Sand Diego State's assistant Justin Hutson, who was responsible for recruiting the likes of Kawhi Leonard, Chase Tapley, D.J. Gay and Billy White among others is on-board and is set to become UNLV's head assistant coach. 

Rice has also contacted former UNLV great, and current NBA assistant coach Stacey Augmon. Augmon could also create buzz that will help recruits go to UNLV knowing his college and NBA past could provide them with valuable experience for their basketball futures.) 

In all UNLV made the right decision. Rice is the perfect person to pick up where Kruger left off. Getting this UNLV program back in the NCAA tournament and now hopefully the ability to make deeper runs during March Madness year-after-year.

The future for the Rebels looks as bright as ever, now UNLV has only one problem their faced with, what to call the student section once known as "Krugers Corner."