New FSM Feature: UNLV Men's Basketball Recruiting Update October -2024

UNLV Men’s Basketball Recruiting Update 10/12/2024

www.FranchiseSportsMedia.com

The Runnin’ Rebels 2025 recruiting class is beginning to take shape. Some pieces are off the board for UNLV, while others are still very much in play. Our UNLV Men’s Basketball insider, Jeff Waddilove, gives you the latest in some of those crucial recruitments right here!

It’s always exciting when a really talented hometown player is listing UNLV. It has happened a lot in the program’s history, and many of those players have gone on to commit and produce at a high level for the Runnin’ Rebels.

The current roster is loaded with kids who have Las Vegas roots. DJ Thomas is the latest superstar local to stay home. The All-League point guard has Jalen Hill, Isaiah Cottrell, and Pape N’Diaye by his side, who also were homegrown (albeit N’Diaye by way of the Ivory Coast).

Could there be more on the way for UNLV head basketball coach Kevin Kruger and his staff?

The Vegas pipeline is one that Kevin Kruger, Barret Peery, and UNLV’s talented recruiting staff are always cultivating. 

The Rebels are again heavily vested in the local scene for this current recruiting cycle. Some players like guards Quentin Rhymes and CJ Shaw committed elsewhere (Nebraska and UCSB, respectively) after being courted to varying degrees by Kruger and company.

Both were highly touted, but not nearly so much as blue-chip center Xavion Staton, who has UNLV in his final four list of schools. Staton plans to commit on November 4th, and the Rebs will have to beat out Michigan, BYU, and Stanford to land the four-star Top 30 player. Landing a player like Staton is always tough, but I have it on good authority that the Rebels have a fantastic relationship in place here and that UNLV likes their chances to keep the Sierra Vista product home. 

Another local that Kruger would love to keep in the Vegas Valley for his collegiate career is Mason Abittan.

For those unfamiliar with Abittan, he’s a total package type of guard with a slender 6’6, 185 lb frame. Ridiculous range? Yeah, he’s got that in his repertoire. Windmill dunks from outside the key? Yeah, those are in his arsenal, too. Can he get to his spots off the dribble? Yep. Floaters in the lane? Sure thing. 

Probably the most impressive thing about Abittan is the Mamba Mentality he exudes.

Hence, he has worn the numbers 8 and 24 during his young career at Red Rock Academy and Coronado.

He’s highly competitive and brings his ultra-well-rounded game and mental toughness to beat his opponents into submission game in and game out. When you see it all combined, it’s no wonder that the Rebels have prioritized him over other talented prospects. 

If UNLV is to earn a commitment from Abittan, they will have to convince him that home is where the heart is instead of UNR under the tutelage of Steve Alford. Abittan recently concluded visits to both UNLV and Reno, and it appears it will come down to the in-state rivals as to who gets him.

If he does say yes, he will join 6’8 Top 150 wing Tyrin Jones in the Rebels’ 2025 class.

Jones and Abittan would be an amazing, multitalented, long, athletic combo and a Top 25 recruiting coup for Kruger.

Stay tuned to all the UNLV and college athletic realignment news with FSM. Thank you for visiting FranchiseSportsMedia.com for your Las Vegas Sports news.

Franchise Sports Media. Las Vegas sports news about Las Vegas Sports teams.

– Jeff Waddilove – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Jeff on all social media: @JeffWaddilove

Follow The Franchise on social media

X

Instagram

Facebook

Subscribe to our Official YouTube Channel