Currently: 47° | Complete forecast | Log in

unlv notebook:

Martinez back at practice after twin laser eye surgeries

Image

Rob Miech

UNLV junior walk-on forward Mychal Martinez, a former star at The Meadows School in Las Vegas, checks out the end of practice Tuesday after undergoing laser surgery on both eyes over the previous four days.

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009 | 2:15 a.m.

Click to enlarge photo

UNLV's Mychal Martinez moves upcourt during the Rebels FirstLook scrimmage Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, at the Thomas & Mack Center.

For the first few days of UNLV’s basketball practices, it was apparent that Mychal Martinez had an issue with his eyes. His occasional blinking of his eyes was pronounced.

He believes that has been alleviated with two laser surgeries, his left Friday and his right Monday, at the Nevada Retina Center.

He described the retinal tear in his left eye as a degenerative condition that Friday’s 45-minute procedure fixed. In a 20-minute surgery Monday, it was recommended he take care of his right eye as a precaution.

“I had had it for a while, and it finally progressed over the last couple of weeks to where I had to get it taken care of,” said Martinez, who starred at The Meadows School and went to Yavapai College in Arizona.

He is a part of UNLV’s valuable quartet of walk-ons, which includes Steve "Chopper" Jones, Tyler Norman and Todd Hanni.

Martinez, a 6-foot-6, 207-pound junior forward, has a follow-up appointment set for Friday and hopes to receive medical clearance to return to UNLV practice Monday.

Almost official

Chace Stanback pushed it a little Tuesday afternoon inside the Cox Pavilion practice gym, so he pushed it a little more.

For the first time since practice started, the third-year sophomore forward from UCLA showed up wearing his official No. 22 white practice jersey.

Tuesday marked the two-week point since Stanback badly twisted his left ankle – the worst of his life, he said – in a pick-up game.

He shot dozens of jump shots, at the opposite end of the court where his teammates were running drills, with trainer Dave Tomchek rebounding for him.

“I wasn’t really supposed to do all that,” Stanback said. “I just felt good, so I just went along with it ... it’s a great feeling knowing I’m this close to getting back out there.”

He predicted it would take about another week -- that it’s realistic to think he could return to full-speed action by early next week.

That means Stanback should be in the fold when the Rebels stage a private scrimmage at Long Beach State on Nov. 7.

“I’m not supposed to do any contact stuff, and I’ll stay away from (cutting) … one step at a time,” he said. “It’s still pretty bruised, but it’s gotten a lot better than it was.”

Free throws

Junior power forward Matt Shaw missed Saturday’s practice with swelling in his right knee, after having his anterior cruciate ligament surgically repaired two summers ago. Sunday’s off day was timed nicely, and he returned to practice Tuesday. On a scale of 1-10, he said the pain was about a 2 or 3. Still, he was not concerned. Shaw said the episode taught him to ice down his knee daily. “Sometimes it just gets irritated, and the swelling might cause some pain,” he said. “I don’t think it’s something that I’ll have to worry too much about. I’ll just take care of it better.” … former UNLV coach Charlie Spoonhour watched most of Tuedsay’s practice with a couple of friends … for what it’s worth, Lindy’s picked BYU and UNLV to finish 1-2 in the Mountain West Conference in its preseason annual. Blue Ribbon predicted a BYU, San Diego State and UNLV top-three finish, while The Sporting News went with a SDSU-BYU-UNLV top trio. That was requested after we ran with prognostications about Long Beach State, UNLV’s closed-door scrimmage foe next week, in the Big West.

Discussion: 2 comments so far…

Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy.

  1. Rob, who paid for Martinez's operations? Insurance for walk-ons was cancelled by Hamrick, right?

  2. Yes, Lenny, it was canceled. It's his personal insurance, with his family, that took care of that. It was a pre-existing condition, also ... but not that that figured in this situation at all. Maybe a year ago, when walk-ons had insurance, that would have been an issue ... you're good, Lenny :-)

Post a comment

Commenting requires registration.

Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy.

If you would like to submit your comment as a letter to the editor, you may submit it here.

Username:
Password: (Forgotten your password?)

OR Create an account (It's free)

Spotlight

Signing Day

Signing Day

Eight locals highlight first recruiting class at UNLV for new coach

Miss America

Miss America

Stories, photos and videos from this year's pageant

CES 2010

CES 2010

Full coverage of the International Consumer Electronics Show

CityCenter

CityCenter

The definitive guide to MGM Mirage's newest property

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve

Full coverage of New Year's Eve 2009

Sights Unseen

Sights Unseen

A collection of our favorite images that didn't run in 2009

2020 Vision

2020 Vision

As a new decade begins, the Sun looks 10 years ahead

Bottoming Out

Bottoming Out

Gambling addiction in Las Vegas

Funny Face

Funny Face

Carrot Top's stage act a mask of contradictions

Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy

A detailed look at where renewable-energy sources are located in the state

A gamble in the sand

A gamble in the sand

The history of Las Vegas

Guest Gauge

Guest Gauge

The weekend crowd forecast for Las Vegas

Next Basketball Game

Feb. 10, 8:00 p.m. (PST)

UNLV

 
The Rebel Room

Never can get enough UNLV analysis and chatter? Then this is the stop for you. Join the Sun sports staff in The Rebel Room for your fix.

BYU POSTGAME: A hot, hot first half ... and more

Ryan Greene and Ray Brewer break down UNLV's 88-74 whipping of No. 12 BYU on ... (Comment)

Killin' Time
scroll left scroll right

Mobile

Can't make it to the game but want to know the score? Our reporters on the scene will send you text messages (up to four times a game) for Rebels football and basketball contests with the scores and stats you need to know.

On the go but need your Rebels fix? Our mobile Rebels coverage will keep you informed of the teams' latest news wherever you and your Web-enabled phone may roam.

Email Newsletters