Jones puts on a show in Rebels’ preseason event downtown

By Taylor Bern

Friday, Oct. 23, 2015 | 2 a.m.

Derrick Jones Jr. pleaded his case all week, but it wasn’t until the Rebels arrived at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center that he got the news he wanted to hear. The only question was who was more excited, the 6-foot-7 freshman or the more than 3,000 fans who wanted to see one of the nation’s best dunkers in action.

“We had to go out and give them a show,” Jones said. “That’s what they came for.”

A twisted ankle two weeks ago put into jeopardy Jones’ appearance in the premier event at Thursday’s Runnin’ Rebel Madness, which brought out Jerry Tarkanian Court and a pack of people for a Vegas-style preseason show. Jones participated in most of Wednesday’s practice and with the medical opinion on his side, Jones talked his coaches into letting him in the field. He wasted no time showing he’s just fine by leaping over Stephen Zimmerman Jr., Ben Carter and Austin Starr for his first slam.

“There’s nothing wrong with my ankle,” Jones said. “I’m 100 percent.”

That earned a perfect 40 from the four judges: Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, former Rebel Freddie Banks, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and UNLV Athletics Director Tina Kunzer-Murphy. Like many UNLV fans, Harper had already seen Jones’ exploits on video.

“I think everybody across the country has,” Harper said. “Being able to see what he does on YouTube videos and then being able to see him live tonight, it’s exciting for UNLV.”

Jones defeated senior Ike Nwamu in the finals with an assist from Zimmerman off the side of the backboard, a dunk they've had in the repertoire since at least May. It didn’t seem physically possible to bring the pass through his legs and finish before hitting the ground and setting off a fireball behind the basket, but doing what should be physically impossible is sort of Jones’ thing.

“I just went out and showed them that I was good,” Jones said.

Starr, a freshman walk-on from Foothill High, topped sophomore Jordan Cornish in the 3-point contest. Other participants included Carter, freshman Alex Perez, junior Tyrell Green and senior Jerome Seagears.

The night also included a hype video, an introduction for the women’s team and individual introductions for each Rebel. While Starr and Jones won the official competitions, sophomore Pat McCaw won the all-important dance competition with a rendition of Drake’s recent video for “Hotline Bling,” up to and including the goofy gestures and a puffy coat.

While onstage, Zimmerman got by far the biggest cheer, but it was Cornish who set the tone for the evening and, the Rebels hope, the season when asked what to expect from this group.

“This year we’re kicking ass and taking names,” he said.

Harper had a courtside seat before taking his judging position. Like many other fans — Harper attends several home games in the regular season — he likes the look of UNLV’s roster, and he’s even more excited that it includes three locals in Zimmerman, Carter and Starr.

“I love guys that rep the 702, the hometown guys, whether that’s with baseball or football or basketball or whatever,” Harper said. “It’s fun to see.”

There’s no break for the Rebels, who today and Saturday will host around 20 NBA representatives at the Mendenhall Center for NBA combine-style workouts. They’re still practicing like normal, but in addition they will go through all of the speed, shooting and agility tests that some of them will have a chance to do at the real combine later in their careers.

It’s opportunities in Las Vegas like that and Thursday’s event downtown that helped persuade Jones to pick UNLV.

“This is my dream, being in college and being able to play at a high level and then possibly go to the next level,” Jones said.

He’s going to get that chance because of the athleticism that allows him to do things like leap over three people two minutes after everyone in the crowd thought he was relegated to the bench. If his flight didn’t look too difficult, that’s because for him it wasn’t.

“Whenever I need it,” Jones said, “I can just pull it out of my back pocket.”

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