Ex-Pitt basketball player, former McDonald’s All-American Birch transferring to UNLV
UNLV coach Dave Rice is in the running for several high-profile basketball recruits, including two of the nation’s top 10 high school players.
But the first McDonald’s All-American to sign with Rice is a player who was nowhere on the Rebels’ radar a month ago.
Khem Birch, a 6-foot-9-inch forward, started six games this season as a freshman at Pittsburgh. He announced plans to transfer on Dec. 15 and said Monday he wants to finish his career at UNLV.
"We are excited to have him in the program," Rice said after Birch signed a scholarship agreement. "After getting to know him, it’s obvious he is committed to working hard and developing his game. One of the things he is most excited about is our up-tempo style of play."
Birch, who chose the Rebels over Florida, averaged 4.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots in 10 games for the Panthers. He was just the third freshman to start during Jamie Dixon’s nine years as Pittsburgh’s coach.
The UNLV staff had no connection to Birch before he decided to transfer. He expressed interest to the Rebels’ coaches, visited campus over the weekend and attended Saturday’s practice.
Rice said Birch will enroll in school Jan. 17 and begin practicing next week. He must sit out two semesters before becoming eligible as a sophomore during the 2012-13 season.
The last McDonald’s All-Americans to play for UNLV were Elmore Spencer (1990-92) and Larry Johnson (1989-91). Spencer and Johnson played in the 1987 game. Birch had 15 points, 10 rebounds and six blocks in last year’s McDonald’s game.
Rice called Birch a "dominant defender" who has the athletic ability and versatility to play the post and run the floor in transition.
Birch, who is from Canada and attended Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass., was ranked by Rivals.com as the nation’s No. 9 recruit out of high school.
Rice has one scholarship available for next year’s recruiting class. UNLV’s fall signees were Demetris Morant, a 6-8 forward from Bishop Gorman High, and guards Katin Reinhardt of Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei High and Daquan Cook from St. Frances High in Baltimore.
Reinhardt is a top 50 player, according to Rivals.com, and Morant ranks No. 150.
The Rebels remain in the hunt for Bishop Gorman’s Shabazz Muhammad, the nation’s top-ranked senior, and Findlay Prep stars Anthony Bennett and Winston Shepard. Rivals.com ranks Bennett No. 7 and Shepard No. 40 nationally.
■ NOTE — Off to its best start since the 1992-93 season, UNLV (16-2) moved up five spots to No. 12 in The Associated Press poll.
The Rebels open Mountain West Conference play Saturday at No. 22 San Diego State.
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.