UNLV’s Daquan Cook suspended after DUI arrest
A knee injury sidelined Daquan Cook last season, and an arrest will put the UNLV junior guard on the bench for the first two months of this season.
Cook was suspended from the basketball team Tuesday, two days after being arrested for driving under the influence in Las Vegas. He was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on Sunday, though no other details of his case were available.
Rebels coach Dave Rice suspended Cook for at least the 13-game non-conference season and said his status will be re-evaluated before Mountain West play begins Dec. 30.
“He made a serious mistake. He understands his responsibility when you put a UNLV uniform on, and he failed in that regard,” Rice said. “I’m very disappointed in Daquan. We are committed to giving him the support he needs to have the opportunity to move forward and learn from this.”
Cook’s playing time was expected to be limited. He was behind senior Jerome Seagears and freshman Jalen Poyser on the depth chart at point guard. Sophomore shooting guard Patrick McCaw is also expected to see minutes at the point.
“Fortunately, we have a lot of depth at the point guard spot,” Rice said. “We’ll see if he’s earned his way back. Daquan has put himself in a good position academically. He’s going to graduate at the end of this season.”
Cook suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament in August 2014 and redshirted last season. He started two of the 28 games he played in as a sophomore, when he averaged 1.8 points and 8.5 minutes per game.
In Rice’s first season as coach in 2011, he suspended Chace Stanback, the Rebels’ top returning scorer, for the team’s exhibition and regular-season opener after Stanback pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of DUI-marijuana in Las Vegas. Cook was dealt harsher punishment.
“I wanted to send a strong message to him,” Rice said. “Daquan felt terrible about making a mistake. It was a tremendous lapse in judgment.”
Cook attended Tuesday’s practice but did not speak with the media. Rice said his plan is for Cook to practice with the team in November and December before it is determined if he will be reinstated.
UNLV plays its only exhibition against Whittier College at 7 p.m. Friday at the Thomas & Mack Center and opens the regular season against Cal Poly on Nov. 13.
Junior forward Ben Carter will miss the exhibition after suffering a concussion during the Rebels’ scrimmage at Southern California on Saturday. Rice said Carter “took a shot to his neck area” and should be cleared to return to practice early next week.
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247