UNLV Runnin’ Rebel Roster 2024 - 2025

[qwelish]

On 3/15/2024 at 11:00 AM, RebelTexan said:

For the last 2 spots, need a competent backup ball handler to spell DJ and an athletic 3-and-D wing with some length.

At least one of those guys will not be back. You can count on that.

UNLV without a doubt needs to beef up the offensive firepower in the backcourt with a proven scorer or two from power conferences. 

A 1-2 and a 2-1 with more shooting, more playmaking, more ball handling, more size. Just all around better athletes and scorers at the off guard positions.

[qwelish]

On 3/15/2024 at 12:04 PM, RebelTexan said:

If true, good to know that there is money available for high-level recruits.  Means the boosters still have faith in the program and in CKK.

I don't think it has much to do with the head coach, specifically. 

UNLV, Las Vegas and their boosters want a winner and are willing to stack the deck if given the chance.

[quickdraw]

Coming into next year we currently have 2 roster spots available. The existing roster also has 2 players that have not really produced in the past 2 years in Cottrell and Nowell. Going by the Tark adage of 8 players and 5 guys that cheer like crazy, we will still need practice players but do you keep those two or take a shot at better transfers? CKK is loyal to his guys which is a good trait so who knows.

Backcourt definitely needs consistent scorers. We have the PG situation finally handled which is the first time that has happened since Bellfield 13 or 14 years ago. Hicks gave up his scoring game coming into conference play for whatever reason but he needs the confidence and practice during the offseason to get his game going again. Evans is a capable scoring guard and the staff needs to show some faith in this freshman early. JJ3 is capable as an 8 or 9 man but needs to work on his handles this off-season. Hill should be back and will be needed for leadership and a defensive stopper. 

Frontcourt will have better size and length. Whaley needs to lose another 10lbs and get out of the low post. He needs to play facing the basket where he can move and take guys off the quick dribble like he was before the ankle injury. Bear will add a bunch of size and length and be that paint defender along with having a true post presence on offense. Whaley and Bear will be a formidable pair. Bannarbie is a long forward with good size and while he practiced with the team this season we don’t know a thing about him. Pape has potential and needs to be in the lineup from the beginning to get up to speed because we will need some minutes from him in conference. 

So for the 2 scholarships I believe the biggest need is proven scorers like a Harkless. Need one of those guys to be a solid combo guard to get DJ back down to 28 minutes a game especially in OOC. Staff needs to use OOC to develop players, especially the young guys. That is a difficult ask though with the way Vegas fans are out for blood in every loss. Still if a complete team isn’t developed in the fall they will fall in the winter.

Just my 2

[ph90702]

On 3/15/2024 at 5:37 PM, rebelcuff said:

If Jackie is willing to come off the bench you keep him. He has some upside. As far as Bear Cherry Juco guys are really a gamble. Competition is really not the same. Hope he is like Lampkin at Colorado. We need a big fat guy.

BearCherry is an explosive and violent athlete!

[rebelcuff]

On 3/15/2024 at 10:28 PM, ph90702 said:

BearCherry is an explosive and violent athlete!

Watched some of his tape. Uses his body well for a plump guy. Seals his man well down low. Kid is going to be a problem for teams in the conference. We need to recruit guys like this to neutralize the Aztecs. Opposing fans are going to hate him which I like. He's actually rated the number 2 juco guy in the country. Lampkin type guy love it.

[UNLV2001]

On 3/15/2024 at 6:45 PM, quickdraw said:

Coming into next year we currently have 2 roster spots available. The existing roster also has 2 players that have not really produced in the past 2 years in Cottrell and Nowell. Going by the Tark adage of 8 players and 5 guys that cheer like crazy, we will still need practice players but do you keep those two or take a shot at better transfers? CKK is loyal to his guys which is a good trait so who knows.

Backcourt definitely needs consistent scorers. We have the PG situation finally handled which is the first time that has happened since Bellfield 13 or 14 years ago. Hicks gave up his scoring game coming into conference play for whatever reason but he needs the confidence and practice during the offseason to get his game going again. Evans is a capable scoring guard and the staff needs to show some faith in this freshman early. JJ3 is capable as an 8 or 9 man but needs to work on his handles this off-season. Hill should be back and will be needed for leadership and a defensive stopper. 

Frontcourt will have better size and length. Whaley needs to lose another 10lbs and get out of the low post. He needs to play facing the basket where he can move and take guys off the quick dribble like he was before the ankle injury. Bear will add a bunch of size and length and be that paint defender along with having a true post presence on offense. Whaley and Bear will be a formidable pair. Bannarbie is a long forward with good size and while he practiced with the team this season we don’t know a thing about him. Pape has potential and needs to be in the lineup from the beginning to get up to speed because we will need some minutes from him in conference. 

So for the 2 scholarships I believe the biggest need is proven scorers like a Harkless. Need one of those guys to be a solid combo guard to get DJ back down to 28 minutes a game especially in OOC. Staff needs to use OOC to develop players, especially the young guys. That is a difficult ask though with the way Vegas fans are out for blood in every loss. Still if a complete team isn’t developed in the fall they will fall in the winter.

Just my 2

My thinking is ........main guys to return are Thomas, Whaley, Hicks & Hill 

Nowell & Cottrell could leave or return as role players based on what they showed this past season - wouldn't sweat if they left or returned 

JJ - about the same as Nowell & Cottrell - a limited guy whose pluses might not counter the negatives 

Must haves are some talented guys in the 4/5 positions and a sure fire SG type who can open the court with perimeter shooting ..........and some guys who can shoot & handle the ball as needed 

The SDSU press really showed the limited guard play and there's a need for some size & girth down low under the hoop 

Still think the biggest disappointment this season was Cottrell coming from a decent WVA / B12 program and just never had any impact ..........and Nowell from the PAC power AZ just was head scratching........not saying these two need to move on, but if they did, it would probably be to a lower level conference -- Considering these two guys on paper being from UA & WVA were less than expected while CSU was making hay with NAIA & D-II guys 

[quickdraw]

On 3/15/2024 at 11:37 PM, UNLV2001 said:

My thinking is ........main guys to return are Thomas, Whaley, Hicks & Hill 

Nowell & Cottrell could leave or return as role players based on what they showed this past season - wouldn't sweat if they left or returned 

JJ - about the same as Nowell & Cottrell - a limited guy whose pluses might not counter the negatives 

Must haves are some talented guys in the 4/5 positions and a sure fire SG type who can open the court with perimeter shooting ..........and some guys who can shoot & handle the ball as needed 

The SDSU press really showed the limited guard play and there's a need for some size & girth down low under the hoop 

Still think the biggest disappointment this season was Cottrell coming from a decent WVA / B12 program and just never had any impact ..........and Nowell from the PAC power AZ just was head scratching........not saying these two need to move on, but if they did, it would probably be to a lower level conference -- Considering these two guys on paper being from UA & WVA were less than expected while CSU was making hay with NAIA & D-II guys 

While I’ve seen progress in many areas over this past year player development has been lacking. Nowell and Cottrell have both gone through multiple injuries but both have really not shown any improvement over two years. We saw Web for 4 years have stagnant growth or even degraded. Lou was flat with a bigger role and really became a defensive role player. Overall many players became role players instead of becoming well rounded. I see that with JJ3 and Hicks as well. So player development is my main concern. That starts with building a players confidence but confidence still needs a base of skills development.

[qwelish]

On 3/15/2024 at 7:28 PM, ph90702 said:

BearCherry is an explosive and violent athlete!

So was David Muoka.

[ph90702]

On 3/16/2024 at 8:28 AM, qwelish said:

So was David Muoka.

Bear Cherry isn’t soft!

[qwelish]

UNLV has Whaley, Barnabie, Cherry, Hill and possibly Cottrell rostered for 25.

With Jones, Whaley, Cottrell and Keylan available, KK went Nowell major tick with the season on the line.

KK sees the game outside in. It shows in his lineups. Nothing wrong with it, but way harder to find guys who dribble, pass, defend up a position, while shooting lights out consistently.

I doubt UNLV signs another big unless a ship opens. The focus will be guards and shooting. I'd be pretty surprised if we see another LouRod/Parquet defensive specialist type prospect.

I'm expecting prospects who are spot up 3 & D types and guys who like to iso pull up all backcourt positions. 

Zero point having two or three bigs you never or barely use, all while being severely scoring deficient in the backcourt. 

 

[Ernie Baer]

1. Rebounder.  227th in the nation in rebounding rate isn't going to get it done.  I'm not thoroughly convinced the newcomers (especially Papa) are going to be enough to help Whaley.  Adding a Moses Scurry/Warren Rosegreen type would be a big help.

2. Two perimeter shooters.  215th in the nation in three point field goal percentage likewise isn't getting it done.  They need at least two guys who can shoot in the high 30 - low 40% from behind the arch.  That is going to help Thomas Jr. get in the paint easier and be more productive as opponents won't be able to help as easy.  Will also help open up the inside game from double teams.

3.  Back up point guard.  Can't have Thomas extending himself the way he was.  Looked gassed late in the SDSU game.  Need a Stacey C. type back up to spot him some minutes.

4.  Another person who can create off the dribble.  Thomas is outstanding but another person who can create would really put a lot of pressure on the defense.  Not thoroughly convinced Hicks or Evans are going to be helpful enough in this area.  

[rebelcuff]

https://247sports.com/Player/Koren-Johnson-46102078/

This is a player we are probably looking at. Connection to Jamaal Williams.

[ph90702]

On 3/16/2024 at 12:49 PM, rebelcuff said:

https://247sports.com/Player/Koren-Johnson-46102078/

This is a player we are probably looking at. Connection to Jamaal Williams.

He looks solid, but we can do better IMO.

Houston Mallette and Michael Ajayi would be two really good additions for us.

[rebelcuff]

On 3/16/2024 at 4:28 PM, ph90702 said:

He looks solid, but we can do better IMO.

Houston Mallette and Michael Ajayi would be two really good additions for us.

Any connection to the staff though?

[qwelish]

With Barnabie, Whaley, Cottrell, Hill, Cherry and NDiaye on the roster, that's six players for two positions. To add another big, one of those guys has to go. 

Right now DJ, Hicks and JJ are the only guards and Hill, Nowell, Evans gives three guys at sf.

If two scholarships go out, they both go to guards without a doubt.

The question after this postseason is how many guys don't return. We still don't know. Could be as many as four.

[quickdraw]

5 front court and 6 backcourt. 2 scholarships remaining.

[Rosegreen]

Updated bracket projection for NIT, playing Kstate. 
 

1. Indiana St.

U. Butler

4. NC State

U. Minnesota

3. Iowa (Big Ten 2)

U. Bradley

2. Kansas St.

U. UNLV

[rebelcuff]

On 3/16/2024 at 8:51 PM, Rosegreen said:

Updated bracket projection for NIT, playing Kstate. 
 

1. Indiana St.

U. Butler

4. NC State

U. Minnesota

3. Iowa (Big Ten 2)

U. Bradley

2. Kansas St.

U. UNLV

We always seem to be playing a Kansas school. 

[Rosegreen]

On 3/16/2024 at 6:05 PM, rebelcuff said:

We always seem to be playing a Kansas school. 

Always seemed to get screwed on location as well, they’ll probably stick us in the East coast. I remember they did that for South Carolina I think. It was BS.

[ph90702]

On 3/16/2024 at 1:32 PM, rebelcuff said:

Any connection to the staff though?

We offered Houston Mallette out of HS.  Not sure about Michael Ajayi.  But we played Pepperdine this year.  Jamaal Williams played for Lorenzo Romar, so that could possibly help if we go after them.