UCLA transfer orally commits to join UNLV - Sports

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Aug. 11, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

UCLA transfer orally commits to join UNLV

Forward, Shaw to be reunited

By MATT YOUMANS
REVIEW-JOURNAL

UNLV Basketball - Men

Chace Stanback
Forward played in 25 of 39 games for UCLA as freshman last season.

In early May, after Chace Stanback announced he was leaving the UCLA basketball team, he received a call from a friend.

On the phone was UNLV junior Matt Shaw, who was Stanback's teammate at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles. Shaw saw an opportunity for the two to be reunited.

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"Matt heard I wanted to transfer, and he immediately called and said he wanted me to come to UNLV with him," Stanback said.

Three months later, what Shaw envisioned is reality. Stanback orally committed to the Rebels on Saturday night -- while Shaw was driving him to McCarran International Airport.

Stanback, a 6-foot-8-inch forward, called UNLV coach Lon Kruger to make it official.

"When I called Coach Kruger and told him, that's when I made up my mind," Stanback said. "The coaches seemed very interested in me, and I bonded well with the players."

Stanback was the 2007 California Division I Player of the Year at Fairfax, where he averaged 25.8 points and 11.9 rebounds. He picked UCLA over Arizona and Washington.

But he rarely played as a freshman for Bruins coach Ben Howland. Stanback averaged 1.8 points and 5.8 minutes while playing in 25 of 39 games for a UCLA team that reached the Final Four last season.

"I just didn't feel like that program was right for me," he said. "I didn't feel comfortable."

Stanback said he chose the Rebels over North Carolina State, San Diego State and Washington.

By transferring to UNLV, Stanback must pay his own way through school while sitting out this year. The Rebels have no available scholarships for the 2008-09 season. Stanback will get one of the two remaining scholarships for 2009-10, when he will be a redshirt sophomore.

Stanback is the eighth player to commit to UNLV since September, and he's the fourth member of the 2009 recruiting class.

Derrick Jasper, a 6-6 point guard, transferred from Kentucky in June and also will sit out this season. Two players who will be prep seniors -- 6-10 forward Carlos Lopez of Findlay College Prep and guard Justin Hawkins from Woodland Hills (Calif.) Taft High -- also committed to the Rebels.

UNLV's four incoming recruits are point guard Oscar Bellfield of Westchester High in Los Angeles, 6-10 center Brice Massamba from Findlay Prep, small forward DeShawn Mitchell from Monmouth Academy in Howell, N.J., and 6-8 Darris Santee of Midland (Texas) College.

Two local prep guards -- Cheyenne's Elijah Johnson and Mojave's Anthony Marshall -- are in the running to accept Kruger's final scholarship for 2009.

Stanback said he can play shooting guard and either forward position. The scouting report on Stanback is that he's a jump shooter whose weakness is on the defensive end.

"I would say that is unfair," Stanback said. "I do need some work on defense, but I feel like I've gotten better. My perimeter shooting is good, but my mid-range shot is more of a strength."

Shaw, who started seven games and played in all 35 last season, had right knee surgery in July and also will miss this season.

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

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Joe wrote on August 12, 2008 05:04 PM: Rebels, I am guessing that GT, UW, and Kent weren't big wins either... Last time I checked wins in the dance were big wins. UW was ranked the best team in the land for a while that year, and we beat them it what was basically a road game. Grandma wrote on August 11, 2008 07:19 PM: I don't care how tall he is, if your the California Division I player of the year, you can put the ball in the hole against anybody. 6-10 Massamba, Lopez, and our 7 foot Baes are not big? The Rebels might not be in KS and UNC league yet, but easily can beat the Pac 10, Big 10, Big 12, ACC teams those conferences have to offer. AZ will be a good test this year as well as Louisville. Well get at least one. Go Rebs! Grandma wrote on August 11, 2008 07:18 PM: I don't care how tall he is, if your the California Division I player of the year, you can put the ball in the hole against anybody. 6-10 Massamba, Lopez, and our 7 foot Baes are not big? The Rebels might not be in KS and UNC league yet, but easily can beat the Pac 10, Big 10, Big 12, ACC teams those conferences have to offer. AZ will be a good test this year as well as Louisville. Well get at least one. Go Rebs! JDisIgnorant wrote on August 11, 2008 07:06 PM: JD- What about Beas Hamga (7ft), what about Massamba (6-10)...??? Why dont you support the local team instead of making ignorant comments?? check out this link for future Rebel Chace Stanback - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe-E_bWTMu4 JD wrote on August 11, 2008 03:52 PM: Another player not tall enough to be a center but will be the tallest the Rebels will get. Kruger can't recruit big guys! Having all forwards works for some, but will eventually catch up to the Rebels. All Kruger is getting is kids that are losers at other programs. Impressive? Nope! rebels wrote on August 11, 2008 03:37 PM: Joe, just because they have a patsy schedule and play in the Mountain West doesn't mean you can get excited over the win total. When they play real teams, they lose -face it. Another Big Year Is Here wrote on August 11, 2008 03:07 PM: Not quite la rebel. Check that link one more time. I'm excited for Stanback too, but as far as Augmon goes, we have a young "Ice" right now in Rougeau. la rebel wrote on August 11, 2008 01:54 PM: Actually I beat the Sun. http://www.lvrj.com/sports/24058919.html Stanbeck is the real deal. The closest thing to Stacey Augmon that the Rebels have seen in years. He will thrive in Lon's uptempo style. Go Rebels! Joe wrote on August 11, 2008 01:35 PM: Just so you guys now there is only one team out west that has more wins than UNLV in the last 2 seasons, I also believe that UNLV is in the top 10 in the nation for wins in the last two seasons. Plus if you look at the roster about half the kids are from California. Why don't you guys follow the team a little more before you post comments on here. By the way...the team is good now...it is ok to be positive... RebCam wrote on August 11, 2008 01:28 PM: Forget you naysayers, while you criticize and pass judgement, Kruger and UNLV continue to win and get exceptional recruits. I don't care where they came from. There's no way you can say that we made zero dents in California, you don't have a crystal ball, you can't see the impact Stanback's transfer will have. You don't know that he was a cancer. WHO ARE YOU!!!! A NOBODY!!!! A NO NOTHING!!!! When will Kruger ever be good enough? Not even if we win a National Championship will you morons be satisfied. Oh but this, oh but that....It will always be something. You keep whining while we keep winning. Read All Comments