Hunt, Anthony take pride in current Rebels’ success

Justin M. Bowen

Members of UNLV’s basketball past pose for a picture.

By Ryan Greene (contact)

Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008 | 2 a.m.

Before sizing up his competition in the Legends Game Tuesday night at the Thomas & Mack Center, former UNLV guard Anderson Hunt sized up another group of Rebels.

The current Rebels.

Hunt and fellow 1990 National Champion Larry Johnson hung around Lon Kruger's bunch during their early afternoon shootaround prior to the team's 74-56 exhibition victory over Washburn. Afterward, the duo had a chance to preach to the youngsters a bit.

"A lot of hard work, determination -- whatever you do, stick together," he said, recalling what he imparted on the team. "Whatever's inside the locker room stays inside the locker room."

Oh yeah, he had one more thing to say to the guys.

"I told them I'll see them in Detroit -- Final Four," he added.

Detroit's Ford Field, of course, will play host to this season's final weekend of college hoops. Anderson nowadays lives right down the road back in his hometown, working in real estate. He's been in the biz since 2000, when he hung up the Nikes following a pro career that saw stints in Turkey, France, Poland, Venezuela, Lebanon and Switzerland. This all came after he averaged 15 points per game in his three-year run under coach Jerry Tarkanian.

"It makes you reminisce, thinking about all the good times you had," Hunt said of being back in the Mack, the smell of which he said he still remembers as being the same.

Hunt was one of several Rebels legends welcomed back for a 40-minute contest that took place just before the current Rebels went through their final tune-up for Saturday's regular season opener with San Diego.

Not in uniform but also in the house was Greg Anthony, who teamed up in the UNLV backcourt for three seasons alongside Hunt.

Anthony said he's beyond appreciative of the welcome mat Lon Kruger has rolled out to he and his fellow UNLV hoops alumni.

"It meant a lot to a lot of guys," he said. "A lot of guys now have that pride back. For so long, it kind of felt like the university ran away from a lot of the success we had. Now you're starting to see them embrace it, and coach Kruger was really at the forefront of that movement. It makes you feel great, makes you want to come back and be a part of it."

Anthony, who became well-known on several TV screens for his work as an analyst for ESPN after his 11-year NBA career, will get another chance to see his alma mater up close. Now working for CBS, he'll be doing color commentary for the Rebels' game Nov. 24 at UTEP.

He didn't have the opportunity earlier in the day to speak with the team like Johnson and Hunt did, but he said it's something he hopes he gets to do down in El Paso.

Especially now that the program is gaining steam again on a national level.

"It makes it all the more sweeter," he said. "We lost it for so long. Anytime you're an alumnus and you're not able to rekindle the tradition, it's disappointing, it's sad. To have it back is really exciting.

"I think this team's got a great chance to do some serious damage in the tournament."