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UNLV Runnin’ Rebel Roster 2024 - 2025

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I'm pretty happy with the roster KK has brought in. 

The mix and fit of players are perfect for what KK likes to run on both ends. Plenty of experience, size and shooting.

This should be the year we see a significant jump in SOS.

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https://lasvegassun.com/news/2024/may/23/kruger-sees-unlv-as-contender-with-portal-addition/

Kruger sees UNLV as contender with portal additions: ‘I like our roster’

UNLV completed its roster a week ago with the addition of Florida transfer Julian Rishwain, who claimed the 13th and final scholarship spot for 2024-25. Rishwain is one of four Division I transfers joining the team next season, along with a pair of incoming freshmen, a juco transfer and six returners.

With the transfer portal closed and all roster spots accounted for, this is the team UNLV will put on the floor on opening night.

Coach Kevin Kruger believes it’s a step forward.

“I thought we had a great portal season,” Kruger said. “We made some great additions, along with our incoming [freshmen] and our returning players. I like our roster.”

While some other Mountain West teams were stripped of their most effective players, UNLV was able to retain point guard D.J. Thomas, one of the nation’s top freshmen last year. The team was also able to hold onto starting forward Rob Whaley, scoring guard Brooklyn Hicks and backup big man Isaiah Cottrell.

Senior forward Jalen Hill was also granted a medical redshirt, giving him a sixth year of eligibility, and forward Jacob Bannarbie will be activated after taking a redshirt as a true freshman.

Thomas is the crown jewel and may be the Mountain West’s best returning player after posting 13.6 points and 5.1 assists as a frosh.

While Thomas could have entered the portal and instigated a bidding war among power-conference programs, he decided not to test the market and stick with UNLV, where he has a healthy NIL deal already in place.

Kruger was always confident that his key players would return, but he admitted there were some tense moments in the final days as he waited for the portal to close.

“There’s always going to be a level of anxiety,” Kruger said. “I would love to see that be something the NCAA could change or take a look at, with something being binding on the players’ side, so if they say they’re coming back, it’s an agreement.”

Because Kruger was able to retain multiple starter-level players, it allowed the UNLV staff to focus on using the portal to fill gaps and augment the roster. Kruger identified length and shooting on the perimeter as top needs and brought in transfers who fit that profile.

Senior Jailen Bedford is a likely starter after averaging 14.6 points per game at Oral Roberts last year, and Jaden Hensley (DePaul) could push for the starting five as well. Boise State transfer Jace Whiting shot 50.0% from 3-point range last year, and Rishwain was a productive marksman at San Francisco before playing one injury-shortened season at Florida.

Bedford, Hensley and Rishwain are seniors, while Whiting is a junior who has experience in the Mountain West.

“We feel those guys have great experience,” Kruger said. “They are day-in, day-out guys. That’s something we were really looking for in the portal, and we were very deliberate and exact and precise in the guys we went after.”

Asked whether he thinks the group he has assembled can vie for the top of the Mountain West next season, Kruger was decidedly optimistic.

“I think so,” Kruger said. “With our returning group, with our additions, I think we’ve formed a very good roster. I think they will challenge each other every single day and be a pretty good team.”

 

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On 5/24/2024 at 12:27 AM, qwelish said:

This is the year. 

I'm expecting this team to not only dance, but to make a run.

For Krugers sake I hope your right. After next seasonhe will only.have one year left on his contract. So it will either be extend him or tell him to hit the road. The only way he gets an extension is to get to the dance.

Looking at this team I think it is more of a 5-7 place team in the MWC.

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On 5/24/2024 at 5:33 AM, Shaker said:

For Krugers sake I hope your right. After next seasonhe will only.have one year left on his contract. So it will either be extend him or tell him to hit the road. The only way he gets an extension is to get to the dance.

Looking at this team I think it is more of a 5-7 place team in the MWC.

Here are the new guys.

https://x.com/TheRunninRebels/status/1793341261208080840

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On 5/24/2024 at 7:43 AM, I Am Not Gary Busey said:

Top half of the MWC, probably top 4 which should be good enough to go dancing. Am I missing something? Who in the new batch is a game changer/difference maker? I am stoked we retained the core team which will also help. This will be a good team.

Some internal improvements: DTJ, Bannarbie, Whaley, Hicks. 

Some addition by subtraction:  Jweb, LouRod, JJ3.

And just all around better fits with more face up, perimeter oriented, shot creating players.

KK coaches from a guards perspective. Outside - In offense and pesky pressure switching defense. 

This past team was KKs best roster. He topped it with this roster.

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On 5/24/2024 at 12:31 PM, Shaker said:

BSu, SDSU, UNM, unr probably top 4.

SJSU AF, Fresno, Wyoming probably bottom 4

UNLV, CSU, Utah St fighting for 5-7

1st, tied for 1st or 2nd.

At large.

Mworst tournament for seeding. 

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On 5/24/2024 at 12:31 PM, Shaker said:

BSu, SDSU, UNM, unr probably top 4.

SJSU AF, Fresno, Wyoming probably bottom 4

UNLV, CSU, Utah St fighting for 5-7

When dreaming, I’m guided to another world, time and time again!

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So are we better, longer, stronger or more athletic than we thought last year going in?

Are we better balanced through the top 10 players than last year?

Do we expect to have better and more consistent perimeter shooting this year?

 

So far I see an upgrade on strength and length. Bear Cherry brings the strength and after another year of training table along with the conditioning program I'm hoping to see Whaley come back even leaner and stronger. With JJ3 and Web moving on we definately got longer and probably mother athletic in the backcourt. Bringing in Evans, Whiting, Bedford and Rishwain the backcourt should improve. Shooting from deep needs to improve dramatically or this team with be hard pressed to make a difference. With 1 year under his belt and again being surrounded by an experienced core of players I expect DJ to really take control of his team and raise the level of expectations and accountability. 

SO...  like always, I really have no idea where this might go until the end of November. 

Rebel Roster 2024-2025
 

  1. Rob Whaley              Sr    F.   6’7”   260lbs
  2. Jalen Hill                   Sr    G.  6’6”.  230lbs
  3. Isaiah Cottrell          Jr    F.    6’11”.  245lbs
  4. Jeremiah Cherry     Jr    F *.  6’11”   250lbs
  5. DJ Thomas              So   G    6’1”.    170lbs
  6. Brooklyn Hicks        So   G.   6’3”.   185lbs
  7. Jacob Bannarbie     Fr   F.     6’9”.   230lbs
  8. James Evans            Fr   G *.  6’5”.   210lbs
  9. Pape N’Diaye            Fr   F *.   6’11”.  215lbs
  10. Jayden Henley.        Jr.   F*.    6’7”.   200lbs
  11. Jace Whiting.          Jr.   G*     6’3”.   190lbs 
  12. Jailen Bedford.        Sr.   G*.    6’4”.   185lbs
  13. Julian Rishwain.      Sr.    G*    6’5”.  200lbs
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On 5/25/2024 at 11:04 AM, quickdraw said:

So are we better, longer, stronger or more athletic than we thought last year going in?

Are we better balanced through the top 10 players than last year?

Do we expect to have better and more consistent perimeter shooting this year?

 

So far I see an upgrade on strength and length. Bear Cherry brings the strength and after another year of training table along with the conditioning program I'm hoping to see Whaley come back even leaner and stronger. With JJ3 and Web moving on we definately got longer and probably mother athletic in the backcourt. Bringing in Evans, Whiting, Bedford and Rishwain the backcourt should improve. Shooting from deep needs to improve dramatically or this team with be hard pressed to make a difference. With 1 year under his belt and again being surrounded by an experienced core of players I expect DJ to really take control of his team and raise the level of expectations and accountability. 

SO...  like always, I really have no idea where this might go until the end of November. 

 

Rebel Roster 2024-2025
 

  1. Rob Whaley              Sr    F.   6’7”   260lbs
  2. Jalen Hill                   Sr    G.  6’6”.  230lbs
  3. Isaiah Cottrell          Jr    F.    6’11”.  245lbs
  4. Jeremiah Cherry     Jr    F *.  6’11”   250lbs
  5. DJ Thomas              So   G    6’1”.    170lbs
  6. Brooklyn Hicks        So   G.   6’3”.   185lbs
  7. Jacob Bannarbie     Fr   F.     6’9”.   230lbs
  8. James Evans            Fr   G *.  6’5”.   210lbs
  9. Pape N’Diaye            Fr   F *.   6’11”.  215lbs
  10. Jayden Henley.        Jr.   F*.    6’7”.   200lbs
  11. Jace Whiting.          Jr.   G*     6’3”.   190lbs 
  12. Jailen Bedford.        Sr.   G*.    6’4”.   185lbs
  13. Julian Rishwain.      Sr.    G*    6’5”.  200lbs

not really seeing any upgrades over Boone Twins and Rod. Also hinging alot on Hill to recover from his knee. 

Cherry may be good, but other than that relying on Freshman in the frontcourt. Cottrell is a warm body in practice at this point. 

Kevie really let everyone down in the portal. 

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On 5/26/2024 at 3:40 PM, Rebels18 said:

not really seeing any upgrades over Boone Twins and Rod. Also hinging alot on Hill to recover from his knee. 

Cherry may be good, but other than that relying on Freshman in the frontcourt. Cottrell is a warm body in practice at this point. 

Kevie really let everyone down in the portal. 

Can’t argue with any of that. Every year is an unknown bag but that is becoming more of the norm for the have nots. I’m not excited, more just curious. As far as the Boones, I’ll miss Keylan. His motor was good for 5 wins.

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On 5/26/2024 at 3:40 PM, Rebels18 said:

not really seeing any upgrades over Boone Twins and Rod. Also hinging alot on Hill to recover from his knee. 

Cherry may be good, but other than that relying on Freshman in the frontcourt. Cottrell is a warm body in practice at this point. 

Kevie really let everyone down in the portal. 

I see it. 

Keylan was a good player, but mostly a defensive big sort of game. His game didn’t really fit what KK runs because he plays a lot on the post. So it was tough spacing offense when Keylan, Kalib and Whaley were on the floor. Keylan also put up #s in a small conference, so his stats were watered down a bit.

Hedley is more face up slash and shoot. He put up his #s in a bigger league. Maybe a wash, but a better fit for KKs stuff.

Boone-Cherry may be a wash. Hoping to get more on the defensive end from Cherry. So again maybe not a better player, but a better fit.

LouRod was great defensively,  but his offense was brutal. Hedley is sort of a blend of Keylan and LouRod but better on the perimeter. Jailen is just way more perimeter oriented and a better fit. Evans may not play much this year, but he's also more dynamic offensively and a better fit.

Defense may fall off a little bit, but the offense should take a big jump.

Mid 60s bball isn't fun to watch and it's hard to win close games at the end.

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The thing that everyone overlooks is the rebounding, CKK brought in guys that will instinctively go get the rebound. Not standing around waiting for the ball to bounce to them. 
 

Last year was a disaster because the guys ,aside from DJ, brought in were not serious about winning and were not a fit at all. Chemistry was way off, CKK rolled the dice on those two and it backfired. 
 

Time will tell if staff is developing the holdovers and if the newcomers add anything to the team. 

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I guess I’ve been jaded for too many years to get too high or too low. Sure seems to be a bunch of people thinking this is a better than usual team. I sure hope so but at this point I don’t have a clue. With so many moving pieces I’ll need to see a few games to get a handle on it. One thing many of us have hung our hats on is developing the multi-year guys. Sure didn’t see much of that in guys like Web or JJ3 over the past few years. I hope that was an anomaly because we will need to see growth in all of the returners and incoming freshmen if this program is ever to make a real change.

That said I am excited to see Cherry and Evans playing with DJ.

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On 5/28/2024 at 12:50 PM, quickdraw said:

I guess I’ve been jaded for too many years to get too high or too low. Sure seems to be a bunch of people thinking this is a better than usual team. I sure hope so but at this point I don’t have a clue. With so many moving pieces I’ll need to see a few games to get a handle on it. One thing many of us have hung our hats on is developing the multi-year guys. Sure didn’t see much of that in guys like Web or JJ3 over the past few years. I hope that was an anomaly because we will need to see growth in all of the returners and incoming freshmen if this program is ever to make a real change.

That said I am excited to see Cherry and Evans playing with DJ.

Why didn’t Bear Cherry’s parents name him Pape?

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On 5/28/2024 at 11:38 AM, Rosegreen said:

The thing that everyone overlooks is the rebounding, CKK brought in guys that will instinctively go get the rebound. Not standing around waiting for the ball to bounce to them. 
 

Last year was a disaster because the guys ,aside from DJ, brought in were not serious about winning and were not a fit at all. Chemistry was way off, CKK rolled the dice on those two and it backfired. 
 

Time will tell if staff is developing the holdovers and if the newcomers add anything to the team. 

Not overlooking the rebounding at all. Size, athleticism, depth, iq, rebounding all improved in the backcourt. 

We just don't know if Cherry/Bedford are improvements in that dept over Keylan and Kalib. 

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