Ex-UCLA hoopster Stanback to visit UNLV this weekend

By Rob Miech

Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008 | 12:10 p.m.

Chace Stanback, a former California Division-I prep basketball player of the year who played at UCLA last season as a freshman, will visit UNLV this weekend.

The 6-foot-8, 210-pound swingman will tour the campus and basketball facilities, and meet with Rebels coach Lon Kruger, his staff and the team. Stanback might transfer to the Mountain West Conference program.

It had been rumored Thursday that Stanback had decided to transfer to UNLV, but that could not be confirmed. The UNLV staff hopes that’s the conclusion this weekend.

As a Bruin, Stanback played sparingly in 25 games but UCLA coach Ben Howland called him a valuable part of a squad that reached the Final Four in San Antonio. UCLA lost to Memphis in a national semifinal game.

“He helped us win a Pac-10 championship and get to the Final Four,” Howland said, “and we will always be appreciative of his efforts.”

Stanback, 19, won two state championships at Los Angeles Fairfax High, where he played with current UNLV power forward Matt Shaw for three seasons. As a senior for Fairfax coach Harvey Kitani, Stanback averaged 25.8 points and 11.9 rebounds.

Oregon also was on his final list out of high school. He has shown interest in North Carolina State and Washington, where cousin Isaiah Stanback played football, since deciding to leave UCLA.

If he comes to UNLV, Chace Stanback would redshirt in 2008-09 and wouldn’t receive a scholarship until the following season, but that isn’t an issue.

His mother, Sarah Quick, hit a $25,000 jackpot in an online game a month ago and she said that would go toward Stanback’s college costs this season.

He could join a recruiting class that will include Kentucky transfer Derrick Jasper, Findlay Prep center Carlos Lopez and guard Justin Hawkins. Kruger would have one scholarship remaining for that class if Stanback picks UNLV.