Rebel seniors recall the happier times

Steve Addy

Thursday, March 1, 2001 | 10 a.m.

The Rebels' six seniors know their best days are behind them.

They have two games to go -- tonight against Colorado State and Saturday against Wyoming -- and nothing this week is bound to rank among their greatest moments at UNLV.

That's the way it goes when your season turns sour, you're banned from the postseason and self-respect is all that's left to gain.

For most of the seniors -- Kaspars Kambala, Trevor Diggs, Sylvester Dotson, Donovan Stewart, Danny Brotherson and Chris Popoola -- winning the 1998 Big West tournament or last year's Mountain West title ranks as their happiest UNLV accomplishment.

Kambala and Stewart were here for both conference titles, which produced NCAA tournament bids for the Rebels.

Diggs, Dotson, Brotherson and Popoola came to UNLV last year as JC transfers, and all except Popoola played a major role in the MWC regular-season co-championship and tournament title.

But don't pity the rarely used Popoola, a 6-foot-5 forward from Los Angeles.

"Just to put on a UNLV uniform was great," said Popoola, whose career has consisted of 95 minutes in 24 appearances, with only six minutes this season.

"Of course, I didn't play as much as I wanted or expected, but it's still been great. I worked my butt off, and I've enjoyed my teammates for two years."

Stewart, 23, has been in the program longer than any of the Rebels, arriving in 1996 when he was a medical redshirt. The 6-4 swingman from Rialto, Calif., saw minutes at every position except center, but has played only 34 minutes in 10 games this season.

"For me (1998) was probably the best year, when we beat Utah on our floor and won the Big West," Stewart said. "It's been fun being here. It's a great city and I've made friends that I'll have the rest of my life."

Kambala entered the program in 1997, having emigrated from Latvia the previous year to play at Homestead High in suburban Milwaukee. He has averaged 15.0 points and 8.1 rebounds in 111 games, ranking 10th in scoring and fourth in rebounds on UNLV's all-time list.

Though Kambala's stats this season are solid -- 16.8 points, 9.0 rebounds -- the 6-9 center has endured a somewhat disappointing year in which he became a lightning rod for the team's shortfalls. When he played well, the team almost always won.

Queried on his favorite UNLV moment, he said, "Winning the Mountain West was pretty nice."

He has a lot of company. Diggs, Dotson and Brotherson agree on the MWC title as their highlight.

Diggs' three-game tournament run against San Diego State, Wyoming and BYU was his validation as a Division I player. The 6-3 Brooklyn guard averaged 17.2 points, shot 51.4 percent (18-of-35) and was terrific on defense.

"Beating BYU (by 23) to win the tournament, I never felt that kind of joy in sports before," Diggs said. "I had never been a part of a championship team.

"That was when I showed I belonged in college ball, that I wasn't just a role player, but one of the top two or three guys on the team."

Dotson has been one of the most improved Rebels this season, averaging 8.1 points and 5.2 rebounds in eight games from Jan. 15 to Feb. 12. Like Diggs, he plans to investigate playing pro ball overseas or in the IBL.

"I felt all along I could help the team win, and I think I proved it," said Dotson, a 6-foot-7 backup center from Detroit.

Brotherson, a 6-4 swingman from Bunkerville, has averaged 6.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in 58 games. He had a game-saving blocked shot last year at Colorado State, and 15 points and seven rebounds in the 89-62 loss to Tulsa in the NCAA tourament.

"I'll probably think more about my career next week, when the (MWC) tournament is going on and we're not able to play," he said.