Brothers’ bond could be boon on local UNLV recruiting front

Dylan Thomas once wrote that it snowed and he made a snowman and his brother knocked it down and then he knocked his brother down and then the two had tea.

Grant Rice probably wouldn't have had the pleasure of plunging big brother into a heap of snow as kids.

Dave Rice would have been inside reading a book.

I'm not sure about drinking tea together, but if it means UNLV basketball has a legitimate chance to sign Shabazz Muhammad, Dave Rice might purchase all the Lipton stock his new three-year contract could afford and sit with his brother for daily chats over pots of the herbal stuff.

Is it really true you need two men to make one brother?

I suppose, just as long as they agree on how best to break a press.

They are alike: The mannerisms. The speech. The love of all that is round and orange and made by Wilson.

They are different: six years apart. The personalities. One couldn't sit still as a child. One couldn't wait to find a corner to sit in.

"A lot of kids that far apart (in age) wouldn't be this close," Lowell Rice said of his sons. "As kids, Dave was always quiet and reserved. If he had extra time, he was reading. On the other hand, Grant was always looking for someone to do something with.

"But they are as close as twins. There are days they will talk three, four times. They have a wonderful love and respect for each other. Grant has always looked up to his big brother. Dave has always looked up to his little brother."

The lyrics to "Brotherly Love" talk about sharing the same last name and color of eyes and fighting over an old red bike, about a bond that brothers know that becomes stronger as they grow, about there will never be two closer friends, about such a relationship being all that brothers need.

That's not completely true in this case.

Dave Rice needs players.

Grant Rice has some great ones.

UNLV fans should immediately accept that the Rebels aren't a fit for all of them, no matter who now runs the program, that the annual journey of local prep players leaving town for different uniforms and new adventures will always occur.

But that's the thing about basketball.

You don't need to keep all of them home.

Just the best ones.

The Rebels today are in better shape to do that with Dave Rice as coach, his brother Grant the steward of a Bishop Gorman High School program that includes some of the nation's most talented players and several included in the 2012 recruiting class.

But this isn't one brother asking another for a lift to work or to pass the remote. Lineage does not guarantee a signature by Muhammad or anyone with ties to the Gaels, and it shouldn't.

Each kid is different with different goals and dreams and expectations of what college basketball should be for him. Some could view a 42-year-old Dave Rice as the final and most significant piece to their decision when considering UNLV. Some might not care at all.

"I know our players are going to see a very fun and exciting brand of UNLV basketball," Grant said. "Believe me, they will be on campus, invited to open gyms, everything they're allowed to do by (NCAA rules).

"Of course, I'll feel some (inherent pressure) to send players (to UNLV). I'm loyal to Bishop Gorman, but I love my brother, and being a UNLV graduate, I'd like nothing more than for him to continue what Coach (Lon) Kruger built here. It's hard to put into words. I couldn't be more proud."

Bishop Gorman two weeks ago had a scrimmage on the first weekend of the spring recruiting season, and in attendance were some of the nation's top coaches. Dave Rice, not yet hired at his alma mater, attended while wearing a shirt with no official school logo.

Mike Krzyzewski of Duke also watched the action.

"Dave didn't have the job yet, but it still reminded me of Duke vs. UNLV all over again," Grant said. "We were hopeful he would be hired but didn't know ... .

"Coach K walked in, and there were about 50 Rebel fans sitting in the stands. That meant a lot to our players. Believe me -- every one that UNLV has been recruiting definitely noticed and liked what they saw."

It goes much deeper than knocking down a snowman or fighting over an old red bike. Brotherly love, Dave and Grant Rice have.

How that translates to the potential for a mini-pipeline of talent is unknown.

"Christmas will be a little strained if we don't get some of those guys," Dave said jokingly at his introductory news conference.

Does that mean no herbal tea?

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday and Thursday on "Monsters of the Midday," Fox Sports Radio 920 AM. Follow him on Twitter: @edgraney.