Adding transfers possible
With one scholarship available for next season, UNLV coach Lon Kruger has several options. Some of those options might not even be obvious to him yet.
The spring signing period begins Wednesday, but the college basketball offseason also is a time when players start to announce transfer plans and reopen the recruiting process.
“If a transfer opportunity comes along, we might look at that,” Kruger said.
The Rebels’ top recruiting target was former Findlay Prep forward Victor Rudd, but that seems to be past tense. It’s doubtful Kruger will continue to pursue Rudd, who was suspended from the Findlay team in late February and left school.
Rudd also was considering Arizona, Marquette and Memphis. Aside from his disciplinary problems, Rudd is facing a difficult path to completing high school academic requirements and gaining eligibility.
One possibility for UNLV could be Quintrell Thomas, who announced Thursday his plans to transfer from Kansas. Thomas played in 26 games as a freshman and averaged 5.4 minutes, 1.5 points and 2.0 rebounds.
Thomas, a 6-foot-7-inch, 240-pound forward, never found a spot in the Jayhawks’ regular rotation. With center Jeff Withey transferring from Arizona to Kansas, Thomas’ playing time did not figure to increase much next season.
Thomas, from Newark, N.J., signed with the Jayhawks after seriously considering UNLV and Rutgers.
Kruger has not hesitated to accept transfers in recent years, so he probably will give Thomas a second look. However, other transfers could become available this summer.
Kruger added two transfers, Derrick Jasper and Chace Stanback, last summer.
Jasper left Kentucky and committed to UNLV in June. Jasper, a 6-6 point guard, was put on scholarship and will be a junior next season.
Stanback transferred from UCLA in May and committed to UNLV in August. A 6-8 sophomore, Stanback practiced with the Rebels while redshirting and paying his way through school last season. He will be on scholarship next season.
Tre’Von Willis transferred from Memphis to UNLV in June 2007. Willis, a 6-4 guard, averaged 11.4 points as a sophomore and is the Rebels’ top returning scorer for next season.
Kruger signed three recruits in the fall — 6-10 forward Carlos Lopez of Findlay Prep, 6-3 guard Anthony Marshall from Mojave High and 6-3 guard Justin Hawkins from Woodland Hills (Calif.) Taft High.
The Rebels lost scholarship seniors Wink Adams, Joe Darger, Rene Rougeau and Mareceo Rutledge, and 7-foot freshman Beas Hamga transferred to Valparaiso in December.
If Kruger elects not to award a scholarship this summer, he would be under the limit of 13 and have two left for 2010.
“That’s not a bad thing,” he said.
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.