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Mitchell the latest in a string of departed players
Kruger says trend isn’t good or bad — it’s just part of the game
Thursday, April 30, 2009 | 2:10 a.m.
UNLV coach Lon Kruger instructs his team during the second half against Louisville in Louisville, Ky.
The Rebel Room
The offseason ... so far
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Ryan Greene and Rob Miech sit down after a brief hiatus to discuss all that has happened in the world of Rebels hoops since the end of a disappointing season. Among the topics are the passing of 'Gondo', another defection and some potential newcomers. Plus, is being labeled 'Transfer U.' such a bad thing?
When DeShawn Mitchell asked for, and was granted, his release by UNLV coach Lon Kruger on Sunday afternoon, he joined an exodus of players that have wanted out of Las Vegas.
Six have left the Rebels’ basketball program over the past 18 months.
That’s either a trend that disturbs fans, and players’ friends and relatives, or one of the unglamorous-but-common aspects of big-time college hoops from which UNLV is not immune.
“Fifteen years ago, when a young guy transferred it was news,” Kruger said. “You thought, ‘What’s wrong? Something’s up.’ Today, it’s really not (news). I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing, it just happens.
“It doesn’t quite work out right away at that one school, so they want to try something else. It happens everywhere. Hundreds of kids are leaving programs this spring.”
Mitchell played sparingly in 21 games as a rookie this past season. His collegiate debut, in which he tallied 14 points against Texas-Pan American, turned out to be the athletic player’s highlight as a Rebel.
With an influx of talent next season, Kruger didn’t soften his words when Mitchell asked how he’d fit into the coach’s plans.
“With DeShawn, it came down to playing time,” Kruger said. “We’ll be honest with a young guy. When they ask, ‘What’s projected for me?’ I’ll give him as objective a picture as I can.
“That’s always a fair question. I want my son to ask that. If it’s not what you’re looking for, then it’s OK to find something that does fit … ”
The exodus has helped others land at UNLV.
Kansas forward Quintrell Thomas, right, blocks a shot by Nebraska guard Ade Dagunduro (11) during the second half of their game in Lawrence, Kan., on Feb. 21, 2009. Kansas defeated Nebraska 70-53.
If power forward Quintrell Thomas, who is visiting Las Vegas this weekend, winds up a Rebel, Kruger will have players who started their careers at Kentucky (Derrick Jasper), UCLA (Chace Stanback), Memphis (Tre’Von Willis) and Kansas (Thomas).
That befits a city built on second chances.
A closer look at the departures:
Emmanuel Adeife (November 2007)
Engaging and quick with a smile, the 6-foot-10 Adeife treats pigs feet as delicacies, pickled treats that light up his eyes. But we never got to have him review the Southern favorite.
He was gone that quick.
In the 2007-08 opener, Adeife complained, loudly and in vulgar language, about his playing time on the bench, during the game. He took off his shoes.
The worst came afterward, in the locker room. In his usual post-game chat with his players, Kruger warned him, as Adeife rose, to stay put. Adeife stood, anyway, and headed for the showers.
More furious than anyone has seen him in years, Kruger approached Adeife, grabbed him and booted him off the squad.
Adeife, a Miami native, where he was eligible following the first semester this past season. He averaged 2 points and 3.6 rebounds in 17 appearances, which included 2 starts.
Lamar Roberson (January 2008)
By failing to consistently go hard in practice, Roberson was his own worst enemy. The 6-8 Roberson also had multiple disciplinary issues.
The Baton Rouge, La., native transferred to Louisiana-Lafayette, where, like Adeife, he became eligible following the fall semester last season. Roberson averaged 6.4 points and 2.8 rebounds for the 10-20 Ragin' Cajuns.
Marcus Lawrence (February 2008)
The spitfire guard and Las Vegas native had a short fuse and a quick tongue, and he had a penchant for hanging out with the wrong crowd from his high school days.
Like Roberson, Lawrence had multiple indiscretions and received plenty of second chances. But when he was arrested in a drunken-driving incident, Kruger kicked him off the team.
Lawrence transferred to Idaho and had further legal trouble while sitting out this past season. As of this week, Lawrence is still on indefinite suspension from all team activities.
Troy Cage (May 2008)
He averaged barely five minutes in 13 games as a freshman and bolted -- in a move similar to Mitchell’s -- for a more prominent role elsewhere.
At Kilgore College, a junior college in Texas, Cage averaged 14.6 points and 6.6 rebounds this past season for the 10-20 Rangers. Cage will play next fall at Tennessee-Chattanooga.
He plans to earn a degree in criminal justice and then attend dental school.
Beas Hamga (December 2008)
UNLV center Beas Hamga pressures Cal forward Jamal Boykin during the second half of the game Nov. 28 at the Thomas & Mack Center. Cal won the game 73-55.
Five-star recruiting ratings might be scoffed at forever because of the lofty label that was put on Hamga’s well-traveled shoulders when he arrived in Las Vegas.
Kruger and his staff were challenged from his first day in practice. The 7-footer’s timing was atrocious, he rarely attacked the rim and he was pushed around by players seven inches shorter than himself.
“He just came in with unfair expectations,” Kruger said. “Shouldering that burden wore him out. I think it showed. The rankings were so unfair, so high. He didn’t have a chance to live up to those.
“The expectations were tough to deal with. Today, it’s tougher on young people, with all of the technology and media, all the information out there. In his case, the rumors and fans, and the disappointment, made it tough on him.”
Hamga left for Valparaiso, in Indiana, and will be eligible after the fall semester. He has reportedly told Valpo fans not to expect the second coming of Lew Alcindor when he starts playing for the Crusaders.
DeShawn Mitchell (Sunday)
Mitchell, a 6-5 wing man, wanted to be a Rebel. During the last week of the season, he took a step back when asked by the Sun about rumors of his imminent transfer.
UNLV's DeShawn Mitchell flies in for an uncontested slam dunk in the final minutes of a 25-point win against Texas-Pan American on Nov. 18 at the Thomas & Mack Center.
He seemed shocked.
“I’m a Rebel,” Mitchell said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Kruger said he was disappointed, but moving on would be the best option for Mitchell.
“When he talked to me about it, he said he always wanted it to work out for everyone,” Kruger said. “DeShawn is a really good guy. He told me that playing time is important and he wanted to seek out other opportunities. He wanted a bigger role.
“I told him he should do that. I’m happy for DeShawn. This, by any means, isn’t the end of the world. He’ll find a better fit, a better opportunity. I’m happy for him. Hopefully, it works out for him the next time around.”
Kruger pointed out that Mitchell signed his commitment to UNLV last year before Stanback decided to leave UCLA for the Rebels and Jasper bolted Kentucky for UNLV.
Stanback, a 6-8 forward with three seasons of eligibility left, flourished practicing with UNLV this past season. It isn’t a stretch to see him playing significant minutes next season and being a rudder of the Rebels.
Mitchell, an electric finisher whose defensive deficiencies could be masked by his shot-blocking prowess, saw that, too.
With Willis, Oscar Bellfield and Kendall Wallace, and newcomers Justin Hawkins and Anthony Marshall, competition for perimeter minutes figures to be rough in the fall.
“A lot of times, it’s about timing,” Kruger said. “All of a sudden, competition for playing time is that much more intense. That happens. It’s not a bad thing for a program.
“Competition for playing time goes up. That’s what we’re looking for. Some individual players can get caught in that. We want to keep our program growing and improving, and raising the bar.”
Impatience starts before a prospect gets to a college program, Kruger said. When a young player doesn’t like his situation with a summer traveling team, for instance, it’s easy to switch squads for a more desirable role and better exposure.
“It’s instant opportunity,” Kruger said. “It’s instant satisfaction and all that. In our society today, it’s even more important than it’s ever been before. Yeah, patience is sometimes difficult for young players.”
Kruger was also quick to say it’s not all on the player’s shoulders. That happens when the bar is raised, when better talent comes into a program.
Roles and situations change annually.
That brings a change of scenery for some players, like Mitchell.
“This might be DeShawn’s best decision,” Kruger said. “We talked about playing time for next year, based on what we know at this point. It might change, but at this point we couldn’t project him playing in a role next year.
“If I’m DeShawn, I likely make the same decision. People can say ‘something’s wrong,’ but I don’t think so. It’s a good opportunity for DeShawn. He can go where he might fit better. There’s nothing wrong with that at all.”
Discussion: 9 comments so far…
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As I have stated previously, I am not criticizing Coach Kruger.
I do however continue to believe that there is a very real problem with the personnel evaluation of incoming recruits.
As the article discusses, the exodus of most players was a function of disciplinary action or literal poor evaluation of the recruits skills. The incoming transfers, however, did not leave their respective schools due to disciplinary issues or initial evaluations.
Kentucky, UCLA, Kansas,to UNLV makes sense. UNLV to La-Lafayette or junior college-shows me the problem remains evaluation. For the most part I can not believe that Adeife, Lawrence, Roberson, and Hamgas and the like developed their bad habits once they enrollled at UNLV.
Looks to me like UNLV is in the middle of a period in which it has the opportunity to improve its talent level. The Sweet 16 appearance is not that long ago in the recruiting world (although many of us have a hard time feeling that), since recruiting cycles with top kids take two or three years. However, transfers have less of a cycle.
Take the six guys above and give me Willis, Bellfield, Jasper, Stanback, (I'm hoping here) Thomas from Kansas and the unknown sixth guy who will get a scholarship. There is no question that the last six are at a completely different level. It's no contest.
Then give me what looks like UNLV's best high school class in years which is due to the NCAA appearances. It does not look pretty while it is happening with the transfers and stuff, but there is more talent on this roster now than in a long time.
Hopefully this is a sign that the talent is getting better and competition is driving the weaker players away. I too hope that the coaching staff improves on their scouting and recruiting good talent to UNLV. It would be nice if we can get back to a team that can run, score and create easy baskets by their pressure defense and athleticism. We certainly will have alot of new faces next year. How quickly the freshman, transfers, and returning players gel will be a big key. Excited to see the possibilties.
Valid points all.
Rooter, I'm not sticking up for anyone. I do think, no matter what program you are, you can't really know about a recruit, how he'll fit into a team and what makes him tick, until he's actually in the program. That said, six in 18 months is a bit unusual. Then again, as is pointed out above, it's a unique time, I think, at UNLV. Better talent is coming around, so ... that's life.
Survival of the fittest, indeed. The next two seasons will be very, very interesting.
The reality is that most teams only have 7 or 8 guys who really contribute in the rotation. Kruger seems to get the 9th and 10th guys a little time. But every team has guys that are going to sit the bench while contributing in practice. If a guy isn't okay with that role, then transferring makes sense. You can't find minutes for the whole roster and no matter the evaluation of players, the bottom 3 or 4 just aren't going to see significant time.
Hey Rob, to end this nonsense if it is or isn't normal for this many players to transfer. Let's look @ all the Top 25 programs from last year, and see how many players transferred in the last 18-24 mos from those teams. I believe we'll find an answer.
I know what you're saying scores. It is inordinate. No doubt about it. Jerry Tarkanian said last season that there were too many folks on that roster. That will lead to a departure or two ... six? Uh, yeah, not ordinary at all. As I wrote above, you never know what you're getting, on either end of the equation. It's an inexact science, to be sure. But scores, I know what you're saying and can't disagree with you.
I am a bit thrown by this as well. Why do the coaches bring them in if they can't get PT in the first place? There is an evaluation problem with the coaching staff. Don't bring someone in if he won't fit in a year from now. It is just plain stupid. I have heard us not taking local kids or other quality players because of disciplinary reasons. If that is the case than why do we take chances with lesser players who have the same problems?
ryph, I think there's some overreaction going on. Better players come along, take time and roster spots. C'est la vie. That's life.