Jalen Poyser sticks with UNLV through tough times

Jalen Poyser apparently never got the message, the one that states those who sign letters of intent to play major college athletics always do so with a pledge first to a coaching staff and then, somewhere among a list of priorities that include shoe gear and coeds, a university.

When everyone else was running from UNLV’s basketball program like frightened guests from a T-Rex at a fictional park, Poyser didn’t budge.

When everyone else began announcing their intentions to seek greener pastures, or at least ones not defined by chaotic and clumsy coaching searches, Poyser remained committed.

“My intentions were never to leave UNLV, because we have unfinished business,” he said. “I feel like UNLV’s a great program. The fans are great. I love the environment … I wanted to take on this challenge. UNLV is my home. There have been bumps in the road, but you still have to push forward no matter how difficult things get. You still have to embrace your own path.”

One by one, they departed, choosing to enter the NBA Draft early or transfer to other schools, five of the top seven players from last year’s forgettable journey opting not to extend their collegiate eligibility with the Rebels.

The other two didn’t have a choice. They were seniors.

When the oh-so-new-look Rebels gathered Monday to begin practicing for a trip to the Bahamas, where first-year coach Marvin Menzies and staff might still need a roster to identify all those wearing UNLV uniforms, the sophomore Poyser was front and center as a team spokesman and one whose desire to see things through never wavered.

He endured the coach (Dave Rice) who recruited him out of a prep school in Ontario being fired three games into a Mountain West schedule; an interim coach (Todd Simon) departing for Southern Utah; and another coach (Chris Beard) accepting the Rebels’ job and then bolting for Texas Tech not 20 days later.

As disorder and confusion intensified and the locker room became emptier and emptier, as many teammates walked out the door for good and another (Dwayne Morgan) announced he would leave before changing his mind, Poyser sought guidance.

“My process had a lot to do with making the best decision for me and my family,” he said. “I felt everyone else’s journey was a little different than mine. We all wished each other the best of luck. I talked to my dad, as a basketball coach and former player, and also to my AAU coach. They told me that you can’t react to what other people do. Do what is best for you.

“The (Beard situation) wasn’t really weird. You have to do what you have to do for family. I understood why he made that decision. It rattled me a bit at the time, but you have to keep your head high.

“I knew a little about (Menzies). A lot of Canadians played for him at (New Mexico State). I knew one of his assistant coaches and a lot of the players there, so I was able to learn more about him. We connected right away. I can tell when someone is real, and he was. He just told me the truth about everything.”

The hard truth: With so many fresh faces, you have a better chance predicting how many Olympians might become ill in Rio than how the Rebels will fare during the 2016-17 season.

But in Poyser, Menzies has a player who saw action in all 33 games last season, who averaged 5.4 points and shot nearly 36 percent on 3-pointers over 16.2 minutes. He was productive at times, able to play both guard spots somewhat consistently.

He needs to get much better in most ways, but there are worse building blocks from which to begin than a player whose loyalty to his program and passion to return it to contending for conference titles and NCAA Tournament berths is unquestioned.

“Jalen has shown me he’s a gym rat, a guy that wants to get better,” Menzies said. “I love guys who get in the gym when we’re not around, that I hear got up shots or put themselves in a position to get better. That’s when you have a really good team. You win with gym rats, and he is one of them.

“We just presented what we are (to Poyser), our vision, what we see, what we had done previously in our career and the people we were going to put around him. For him to buy in, that says a lot about his commitment not to me but to UNLV overall. That’s what is special about this kid. He’s a Rebel. It’s not about playing for Coach Menzies. Anyone can sit in my seat. It’s about being a Rebel.”

The two talked on the day Menzies was hired.

What did the new coach say?

“I love you. Stay. I need to feed my family.

“In so many words.”

Turns out, he didn’t need any.

Jalen Poyser wasn’t running — um, going — anywhere.

Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be a heard on “Seat and Ed” on Fox Sports 1340 from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Twitter: @edgraney