UCLA transfer ready for Vegas

November 5, 2009 by Noam Amir-Brownstein 

Guard/forward Chase Stanback prepares for bright lights

Being away from a sport for a year that you have played your whole life can be difficult, but Chase Stanback looks to bounce back after transferring to UNLV from UCLA.

At 6’8”, Stanback is looking forward to finally suiting up for the Runnin’ Rebels after having to redshirt the last season due to NCAA transfer regulations.

At UCLA, Stanback appeared in 25 games as a true freshman for a team that made a Final Four appearance. He averaged almost six minutes a game, scoring nearly two points a game during that time and shooting 40 percent from the field.

He views his time there as well spent, as he got to play and practice with current NBA players Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook.

“Its just an experience playing against top players every day in practice,” Stanback said, discussing Love and Westbrook.

He spent his redshirt season practicing and learning the system. Unfortunately, his debut to the Rebels team this year was delayed due to an ankle sprain at the beginning of the practice season.

He recently returned and is looking to perform at his best with the ankle hopefully being healed by the start of the season.

“It’s just his third day of practice [last Tuesday] so it’s unfortunate. He sat out the year and is anxious to get going and then he rolls that ankle and has a severe ankle sprain, but he will bounce back and if it’s going to happen, then it’s good to happen early and not late,” said head coach Lon Kruger. “He is very skilled and enthusiastic about doing a good job and he will bounce back and do well.”

Stanback is tall for his position as dual guard and forward and will be looking to use that to create mismatches and to play to his strengths.

He feels his best qualities on the court are his “rebounding, shooting and getting other players open looks.” He wants to play to those strengths, but he has worked on increasing his all-around skills in the offseason.

“I was working on strength, speed, quickness, obviously my jumper and just trying to get back in the flow and trying to get my legs back under me,” Stanback said.

With that, he hopes to exceed all expectations that have been put on him.

“Based on his abilities, his skills and the things he did last year, he is going to be a big factor in our program as far as expectations go,” Kruger said. “You know he will step in there and contribute both offensively and defensively. He is a good rebounder. He will make us better.”

Just how big of a factor he will be remains to be seen, but he is open to doing anything to help the team win.

When asked what he thought his role on the team is, he gave a selfless answer:

“Doing anything my teammates need me to do. Whatever they need, I’m willing to do.”
Because of his attitude and skill, Stanback is poised to have a successful season on a hopeful Rebels squad.