May 29, 2016

LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) - Former UNLV men's basketball player and current member of the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans Bryce Dejean-Jones has passed away. He was 23 years old.

Dejean-Jones, a native of Los Angeles, Calif., played the 2014-15 season at Iowa State as a transfer after graduating from UNLV in 2014 with an undergraduate degree in sociology.

Upon learning of his death, UNLV Athletics released the following statement: "We are shocked and saddened to learn the tragic news of Bryce's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends."

After transferring to UNLV from USC following his freshman season, he sat out as a Runnin' Rebel during the 2011-12 year.

As a sophomore at UNLV during the 2012-13 season, he entered the year as the Mountain West's Preseason Co-Newcomer of the Year. He appeared that season in all 35 of UNLV's games, starting 29. He was third on the team in scoring with 10.3 ppg, third in steals with 33, third in assists with 2.34 apg and fourth in rebounds with 4.4 rpg. He scored team-high 15 points in UNLV's 64-61 NCAA Tournament loss to California that year.

As a junior at UNLV during the 2013-14 season, he led the team in scoring with 13.6 ppg after appearing in 31 games and making 26 starts. He also led the team in assists with 92 and was third in steals with 22. He also averaged 3.7 rpg. He earned third team All-MW honors in 2014.

Dejean-Jones played 14 games for the Pelicans in 2015-16 as a rookie after going undrafted. He scored a career-high 17 points against the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 4. His rookie season was cut short by injury after signing a three-year deal with the Pelicans on February 19.