Get to know this year’s Runnin’ Rebels
The UNLV men’s basketball team returns only three players this season. Here’s a look at this year’s roster.
No. 0 — LARRY BUSH
Basics: Guard, 6-2, junior
Background: A walk-on who transferred from Moorpark (Calif.) College. Last season, averaged 17.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists. Named the school’s 2016 Male Athlete of the Year and Ventura County Male Athlete of the Year.
Favorite NBA team: Los Angeles Lakers
Favorite food: Chicken
No. 1 — KRIS CLYBURN
Basics: Guard, 6-6, sophomore
Background: Transferred from Ranger (Texas) College. In 38 games last season, averaged 14.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals. Shot 59.9 percent, including 50.8 percent from 3-point range. Was first-year coach Marvin Menzies’ first signee.
Favorite NBA team: Detroit Pistons
Favorite food: Chicken
No. 2 — UCHE OFOEGBU
Basics: Guard, 6-4, senior
Background: Transferred from San Francisco. As a graduate transfer, is eligible to play this season. Last season at USF, appeared in all 30 games and made 21 starts. Averaged 9.2 points and shot 50.8 percent, including 43.5 percent from 3-point range.
Favorite NBA team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Favorite food: Soul food
No. 3 — TYRELL GREEN
Basics: Forward, 6-7, senior
Background: Enters second season after transferring from Hill College in Hillsboro, Texas. Last season at UNLV, played in eight of the season’s first 13 games, but missed the rest of the season because of injuries. Averaged 1.8 points and 1.1 rebounds.
Favorite NBA team: Toronto Raptors
Favorite food: Pizza
No. 5 — JALEN POYSER
Basics: Guard, 6-4, sophomore
Background: Appeared in all of UNLV’s 33 games last season, making one start. Averaged 5.4 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.1 assists while playing an average of 16.2 minutes played per game. Scored in double figures seven times. 2015 graduate of Orangeville Prep/Athlete Institute in Mono, Ontario.
Favorite NBA team: Toronto Raptors
Favorite food: Oxtail and curry goat
No. 10 — ZION MORGAN
Basics: Guard, 6-5, freshman
Background: 2016 graduate of Kenwood Academy in Chicago. Averaged 14.7 points, 5.0 assists and 2.2 steals last season. A Rivals.com three-star prospect. Was named to the Chicago Sun-Times All-City Team.
Favorite NBA team: Minnesota Timberwolves
Favorite food: Grandma’s mac and cheese
No. 11 — CHEICKNA DEMBELE
Basics: Forward, 6-11, freshman
Background: 2016 graduate of Broadfording Christian Academy in Hagerstown, Maryand. Played the 2015-16 season at Scotland Performance Institute in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, after moving to the United States in 2015 from Mali. Averaged 16 points and more than four blocks last season.
Favorite NBA team: San Antonio Spurs
Favorite food: African food
No. 12 — DJORDJIJE SLJIVANCANIN
Basics: Forward, 6-10, freshman
Background: Graduate of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Represented the Serbian and Ukrainian Junior national teams. Played for Mega Leks in Serbia before coming to the U.S.
Favorite NBA team: Los Angeles Lakers
Favorite food: Steak
No. 13 — BEN COUPET JR.
Basics: Forward, 6-7, freshman
Background: 2016 graduate of Simeon Career Academy in Chicago. Averaged 10 points and four rebounds last season. Named first-team all-league. A three-star prospect by Rivals and 247 Sports. ESPN ranked him as the No. 39 small forward.
Favorite pro athlete: Muhammad Ali
Favorite food: Harold’s chicken
No. 15 — DWAYNE MORGAN
Basics: Forward, 6-8, junior
Background: Has played in 60 games for UNLV, making 26 starts. Scored in double figures in 11 games. Last season he appeared in 27 games, making 22 starts. Averaged 5.5 points and 4.7 rebounds.
Favorite NBA team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Favorite food: Seafood
No. 20 — CHRISTIAN JONES
Basics: Forward, 6-7, senior
Background: Transferred from St. John’s. As a graduate transfer, is eligible to play this season. Last season at St. John’s, played in all 32 games and made 19 starts. Averaged 8.4 points on 47.8 percent shooting. … Also averaged 5.2 rebounds and had 17 blocked shots.
Favorite NBA team: New York Knicks
Favorite food: Burgers
No. 22 — JAYLAN BALLOU
Basics: Guard, 6-0, freshman
Background: A walk-on who attended St. Paul High School in Santa Fe Springs, California. Averaged 17 points and nine assists last season at St. Paul and was named Most Valuable Player of the Santa Fe League. Also first-team All-California Interscholastic Federation Division 4A and first team all-region.
Favorite pro athlete: Allen Iverson
Favorite musician: Future
No. 24 — JORDAN JOHNSON
Basics: Guard, 5-11, junior
Background: Transferred from Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Must sit out this season because of NCAA transfer rules. Last season, earned second-team All-Horizon League. Started all 33 games. Averaged 12.5 points, 8.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds.
Favorite pro athlete: Kobe Bryant
Favorite food: In-N-Out Burger
No. 30 — JOVAN MOORING
Basics: Guard, 6-2, junior
Background: Transferred from South Suburban College near Chicago. Last season, averaged 26.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.0 steals. Led team to the semifinals of the NJCAA Division II National Tournament. Was named Tournament MVP as well as NJCAA Division II Men’s Basketball Player of the Year.
Favorite NBA team: Cleveland Cavaliers
Favorite food: Chicken
No.31 — TROY BAXTER JR.
Basics: Forward, 6-8, freshman
Background: 2016 graduate of Oldsmar (Florida) Christian High School. … Rated four-star prospect by ESPN and Rivals, and was ranked 90th in the ESPN Top 100 as a senior. Averaged 17.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Originally signed with South Florida before asking for his release.
Favorite pro athlete: Paul George
Favorite food: Seafood
