Rebels’ success impresses prep players
A college decision is way off in the distance for Anthony Marshall, a 6-foot-2-inch shooting guard who is finishing his sophomore year at Mojave High School. If he desires to stay close to home, UNLV might be an option.
Marshall said he is taking a closer look at the Rebels, especially after watching their 30-7 season that ended with a trip to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.
UNLV coach Lon Kruger hopes the positive exposure his program received in March is beneficial to recruiting.
It has made an impression on Marshall, who said it was “very important” to see the Rebels show progress and win big.
“More people are learning they can play now,” Marshall said of the Rebels. “They are the hometown team, so you look up to them.”
Marshall is putting his skills on display in the Easter Classic, the nation’s largest tournament for high school basketball players during the first weekend of the NCAA’s late recruiting period.
Coaches from several Division I programs surveyed the talent as Marshall helped the Las Vegas Prospects defeat the Arizona Stars 87-64 on Saturday at Cox Pavilion.
Prospects coach Anthony Brown rattled off a long list of schools interested in Marshall, a list that includes Kansas, UCLA and UNLV.
The Rebels also are showing interest in Elijah Johnson, a 6-3 sophomore point guard from Cheyenne High. Johnson sometimes runs with the Prospects, but was not playing Saturday.
Brown said Kruger has a better shot to keep Las Vegas’ top prep players home for college.
“I think Coach Kruger, if he starts to go after these kids and he’s winning 30 games, why shouldn’t he get them? And he’s an NBA guy, and a lot of these kids have NBA dreams,” Brown said.
“I definitely think UNLV is more attractive, and it’s more sexy for the kids now to stay at home. It works on both ends. Does UNLV want the Vegas kids and do the Vegas kids want to stay? Everyone wants to be wanted.”
The best high school players in Las Vegas are guards, so Kruger has to recruit nationally to find big men.
The top-ranked senior-to-be in the state is Galena’s 6-8 Luke Babbitt, who verbally committed to Ohio State.
Babbitt is playing for the Prospects, as is 6-8 Olek Czyz, who averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds as a junior at Reno High.
“Who can’t use a 6-8 jumping jack who runs like a gazelle and can shoot the 3?” Brown said of Czyz, who has an offer from Washington State but is uncommitted.
The late signing period begins Wednesday, and UNLV has one scholarship to fill. Kruger is in search of a post player, and if he can’t find one to sign, the Rebels could hold out and take a transfer.
Because of UNLV’s recent success, top recruits are more likely to listen to Kruger’s pitch.
“I think the awareness should be better,” Kruger said. “It’s not easier, but hopefully there is the opportunity to get in on a greater number of kids.”
The Rebels’ incoming recruiting class consists of 6-10 Emmanuel Adeife of Polk Community College in Winter Haven, Fla., 6-3 shooting guard Mareceo Rutledge of Yuba College in Marysville, Calif., and 6-4 guard Kendall Wallace from Mountain View High in Mesa, Ariz.