Notebook: Two incoming Rebels, local big man selected for national team

By Taylor Bern

Thursday, May 8, 2014 | 2 a.m.

Two incoming Rebels and Bishop Gorman junior Stephen Zimmerman were among the 21 players selected to the USA Men’s Basketball U18 national team this week.

Dwayne Morgan and Rashad Vaughn will join Zimmerman, a Rebel target in the class of 2015, at the team’s training camp June 9-19 in Colorado Springs, Colo. Then the team will compete for five days in pool play and championship rounds against teams from seven other countries, including Argentina, Brazil and Canada.

“It certainly speaks to the quality of player and character of Rashad and Dwayne,” said UNLV coach Dave Rice. “It’s great for them in terms of boosting their profile, getting some great experience, and it’s also terrific for us as a program to be connected to such a prestigious event.”

Florida’s Billy Donovan is the team’s head coach with help from Sean Miller (Arizona) and Ed Cooley (Providence). UNLV is one of three schools with multiple incoming players selected. The others are Duke and Arizona.

The invite means less time on campus this summer for Vaughn and Morgan, but they will still be in Las Vegas in time to enroll in UNLV’s third summer session starting July 14.

MGM Grand Showcase opponent set

The Rebels are scheduled to play Utah in a doubleheader at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Dec. 20. Last year, the Utes went 21-12 and finished tied for eighth in the Pac-12.

The event started last season with a doubleheader featuring New Mexico vs. Marquette and Oklahoma State vs. Colorado.

This year’s field isn’t set, but former UNLV coach Lon Kruger’s Oklahoma team is expected to be in the other game.

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.