It’s always the stars that get the glory, but some of the most popular players in UNLV history were guys who rarely left the bench. Here’s a look at some of our favorites:
1. Dave Rice – Even before becoming UNLV’s head coach in 2011, Rice was a source of pride for Rebel fans. The 6-foot-4 guard didn’t get much court time in his two seasons (1989-91) as a UNLV player, but he was a member of two Final Four teams, a two-time UNLV Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a Rhodes Scholar candidate. Rice averaged just 1.4 points in 38 games with the Rebels, including two scoreless minutes in UNLV’s 103-73 victory over Duke in the 1990 national championship game.
2. Leon Symanski – The 6-foot-8 forward played in 36 games over three seasons (1984-87) with the Rebels, totaling just 131 minutes and averaging little more than one point per game. But he has become one of the most successful former Rebels off the court, earning his master’s in public administration from UNLV in 1994, graduating as part of the first class of UNLV’s William S. Boyd School of Law in 2001, and now working as an attorney for Craig P. Kenny & Associates in Las Vegas. Symanski also founded the UNLV Legends Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance for former Rebel basketball players.
3. Steve “Chopper” Jones – The 6-foot-1 guard only played one season for UNLV (2009-10) after transferring from Arizona State, averaging 1.5 points in 34 games, but the son of former NBA player Steve “Snapper” Jones quickly became one of the most popular Rebels for his relentless hustle and positive attitude. He now is the assistant in basketball information and technology for the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.
4. Bryan Emerzian – A four-year Rebel (1988-92), Emerzian was the last man on the bench on some of the greatest teams in UNLV history. The 5-foot-11 guard averaged 0.35 points in 43 career games, and was a favorite of coach Jerry Tarkanian for his Armenian heritage. He is now a commodities broker and lives in Buffalo Grove, Ill.
5. Chris Jeter – The 6-foot-8 forward scored just 70 points in 60 games over four seasons (1987-91), but he will always hold a special place in Rebel history for head-butting a Utah State player before punching another toward the end of UNLV’s 124-90 victory over the Aggies on March 1, 1990. Jeter, who was suspended three games for his actions, played three scoreless minutes in the Rebels’ 30-point rout of Duke in the 1990 NCAA title game. His son, Chase, a 6-8 sophomore forward at Bishop Gorman High School, has already received a scholarship offer from UNLV.
6. Mike Milke – The 6-foot-3 guard was a member of the Rebels’ Hardway Eight team of the mid-1970s, even if he wasn’t one of the illustrious eight. But whenever UNLV had a big lead at the Convention Center, the crowd would begin a chant of “Mil-keee” to spur coach Jerry Tarkanian to put him in the game. Milke averaged 1.5 points over 73 games in four seasons (1974-78) before becoming a physical education teacher at Hyde Park Middle School.
7. Matt Porter – Another supporting cast member during the Hardway Eight era, the 6-foot-5 guard averaged 1.4 points in 47 career games over four seasons (1974-78).
TOP: Leon Symanski earned his master’s from UNLV in 1995 after playing 36 games over three seasons with the Rebels.
Follow Sean DeFrank via RSS.