Stacey Augmon anchored UNLV's suffocating defense as a four-year starter, helping the Runnin' Rebels win the 1990 NCAA title.
Stacey Orlando Augmon was born in Pasadena, California in 1968. He attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and won the national championship in 1990 alongside Larry Johnson on Jerry Tarkanian's legendary team. He was named the national defensive player of the year three consecutive times — the most dominant defensive reputation of any college player of his era. He was a two-time All-American. He averaged 15.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game across four seasons. He was equally valued for what didn't show in the statistics — his suffocating man-to-man defence that neutralised opposing teams' best perimeter players. Atlanta Hawks selected him ninth overall in the 1991 NBA Draft. His 13-season professional career produced solid but not spectacular numbers — he was always respected for his defence. His UNLV career established him as the prototype for the defensive specialist who could also contribute offensively — a player whose value exceeded his scoring statistics because of the havoc he caused to opposing offensive plans. The 1990 UNLV championship team remains the most dominant single-season team in modern college basketball history.
Defensive anchor of UNLV's 1990 NCAA championship 'Runnin' Rebels'
How They Played
Augmon was known for his exceptional defensive prowess, earning the nickname 'Plastic Man' for his long arms and ability to disrupt opposing offenses. He combined elite athleticism with basketball intelligence, excelling as a versatile defender who could guard multiple positions while also contributing significantly on offense through transition play and clutch scoring.
Lasting Impact
Augmon helped establish UNLV as a national powerhouse and was instrumental in popularizing the fast-break, high-pressure style that influenced college basketball in the 1990s.
Career Honours
- NCAA champion 1990
- Consensus second-team All-American 1991
- 3x NABC Defensive Player of the Year
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| UNLV Runnin' Rebels | 1988–1991 | — |