Las Vegas Sun

May 24, 2012

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Look out below! Here comes Steve ‘Chopper’ Jones

Published Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009 | 6:36 p.m.

Updated Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009 | 6:38 p.m.

It was no surprise that the first Rebel to bang into a group of chairs in practice was Steve “Chopper” Jones.

That happened Saturday morning along the north baseline. Jones laid himself out trying to grab a loose ball. Three folding chairs crumpled to the floor like accordions.

Jones was plucked from the wreckage.

That’s Chopper, who played at Arizona State with Kevin Kruger, UNLV coach Lon Kruger’s son who helped resurrect the Rebels’ program three years ago with a run to the Sweet 16.

Jones came highly recommended from Kevin, who gave him his nickname. The rest is history.

The UNLV coaching staff paused at one of Jones’s first practices a year ago. He barreled into star guard Wink Adams like a bull in a China shop, but video showed it was a clean hit.

With his hustle and passion, Jones figures to get some time this season. When that happens, front-row chairs beware.

Follow Rob Miech on Twitter at twitter.com/RobMiech.

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