News Summary
The UNLV men’s basketball team, under new head coach Josh Pastner, bolsters its roster with five fresh transfers, including former Iowa standout Ladji Dembele. With a vision to rejuvenate the program, Pastner aims to improve community engagement and return the team to NCAA Tournament status after a lengthy absence. The women’s team is also enhancing its lineup with two new players, signaling a robust revitalization across the program.
UNLV’s Basketball Roster Gets a Fresh Boost with New Additions
Las Vegas, Nevada—Excitement is buzzing around the UNLV men’s basketball program as new head coach Josh Pastner rolls out his plans to breathe fresh life into the team. Pastner, who recently took the helm of the Rebels, has been busy this off-season, pulling five new players from the transfer portal to bolster the roster. Among these newcomers is none other than former Iowa forward Ladji Dembele, who has made headlines with his commitment to the Rebels.
A Look at Ladji Dembele
Ladji Dembele, standing at an impressive 6-foot-8 and weighing 250 pounds, brings a formidable presence to the court. During his sophomore season at Iowa, he showcased his shooting skills, knocking down 38.2% of his shots from beyond the arc. Last season, Dembele averaged 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game over the course of 33 games, with 21 of those being starts. Born in Mali, he made waves at St. Benedict’s Prep in New Jersey before his time in Iowa.
Dembele’s journey has been quite the ride! He decided to enter the transfer portal following Iowa’s decision to part ways with coach Fran McCaffery last month. An interesting fact for Rebels fans is that Dembele isn’t just joining any team—he’s following in the footsteps of his brother, Cheickna Dembele, who previously played for UNLV.
More New Faces for the Rebels
But Dembele isn’t alone in joining the team. Coach Pastner has been actively building up the roster with several other notable additions. The list includes:
- Howard Fleming, a guard hailing from Texas-Rio Grande Valley
- Al Green, a guard from Louisiana Tech
- Emmanuel Stephen, a center who comes to the Rebels from Arizona
- Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, another guard, this time from Illinois
Pastner certainly doesn’t intend to stop there! Along with these transfers, he’s successfully retained four high school commitments from the team’s previous coach, Kevin Kruger. Notably, Mason Abittan from Coronado High School has made the cut, and Pastner has also secured his first commitment from another high school player, Issac Williamson, a combo guard originating from Roosevelt High School in Eastvale, California.
The Women’s Team is Getting Stronger Too!
It’s not just the men’s team making waves. The UNLV women’s basketball squad has also made a splash by adding two new players via the transfer portal, showing that there’s a revitalization taking place across the program.
A Vision for the Future
As he assembles a fresh roster, Pastner’s vision extends beyond just getting new talent to wear a Rebels jersey. His ultimate goal is to rebuild the entire UNLV program while breaking the long-standing drought—the team hasn’t made it to the NCAA Tournament in over 13 seasons! To achieve this, Pastner is keen on increasing community engagement, hoping to restore the program’s once-illustrious reputation and fan support.
With a proven track record that includes NCAA Tournament appearances during his time at Memphis and Georgia Tech, along with a key role in securing a national championship title at Arizona in 1997, Pastner isn’t new to the pressures of high-stakes basketball. His knack for recruitment is highly respected, as evidenced by consistently high-ranked classes during his prior coaching endeavors.
With all these changes and the new recruits on board, fans are eager to see how the future unfolds for the Rebels. Pastner is dedicated to rekindling the passion for UNLV basketball, aiming to boost attendance at games following a decline in fan support. The stage is set, and the city is ready for an exciting new chapter in UNLV basketball history!
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HERE Resources
UNLV Basketball Gears Up for New Season with Key Transfers
Additional Resources
- Fox 5 Vegas
- Wikipedia: UNLV Rebels basketball
- UNLV Rebels Official Site
- Google Search: UNLV basketball
- Review Journal
- Encyclopedia Britannica: College Basketball
- ESPN
- Google News: Josh Pastner
- Las Vegas Sun
- Google Scholar: UNLV basketball transfers
