UNLV to retire 2 jerseys, announces nonconference schedule

Former UNLV hoops stars Freddie Banks and Robert Smith volition person their jerseys raised to the Thomas & Mack Center rafters, the assemblage announced Wednesday.

Banks volition beryllium honored during the Nov. 27 location crippled against UCLA. Smith’s fig volition emergence Feb. 19 erstwhile Colorado State visits.

UNLV connected Wednesday besides unveiled its nonconference schedule. The UCLA crippled isn’t the lone marquee matchup.

The Rebels besides big California connected Nov. 13, play astatine T-Mobile Arena against Michigan connected Nov. 19 and Arizona oregon Wichita State 2 days later, and sojourn Southern Methodist connected Dec. 1. They besides play 2 games astatine Michelob Ultra Arena — Seattle connected Dec. 8 and Hartford connected Dec. 11.

Banks, who coaches Canyon Springs High School, was relieved to find the UCLA day doesn’t struggle with his team’s schedule.

“I didn’t docket a crippled that day, truthful I’m good,” Banks said laughing.

Banks, who made the 1983 McDonald’s All-America Team astatine Valley High School, helped pb the Rebels to the 1987 Final Four. He made an NCAA Tournament grounds 10 3-pointers successful the semifinals against Indiana and averaged 19.5 points that season. His 152 3-pointers that play stay the schoolhouse record.

“It means a batch to maine due to the fact that it’s been a agelong clip coming,” Banks said of the UNLV honor. “I’m thankful to God that it happened present portion my parent and begetter are inactive here.”

Smith was the constituent defender connected UNLV’s archetypal Final Four team, which acceptable nationalist records with 3,426 points and 23 100-point games. He led the federation that play successful escaped propulsion percent astatine 92.5 and doubly led the Rebels successful assists.

Smith aboriginal played 7 seasons successful the NBA and coached Bishop Gorman for 9 years, winning 2 authorities championships and finishing 2nd twice.

He was the Rebels’ vigor crippled expert for 10 years earlier suffering a changeable 2 years ago.

“(The grant is) agelong overdue and incredibly well-deserved and precise gratifying,” UNLV play-by-play announcer Jon Sandler said. “I privation it had been done anterior to Robert getting ill. But he’s astatine a constituent present wherever it volition registry and it volition mean a large woody to him.”

It besides volition mean a batch to the Las Vegas community, Sandler said. “He’s specified an important portion of this assemblage and has been for truthful long.”

Sandler said though Smith’s information has improved, helium inactive has a batch of enactment ahead.

“Each clip I’ve seen him, he’s been a small spot better,” Sandler said.

Contact newsman Mark Anderson astatine manderson@reviewjournal.com. Follow @markanderson65 connected Twitter.