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March 28, 2024

Rebels basketball:

Updated: When and where to watch UNLV’s targets at the local AAU tournaments

Coach Dave Rice and his staff have their eyes on several players form the classes of 2013 and 2014 playing in town

Findlay Prep Practice

Steve Marcus

Findlay Prep’s Christian Wood shoots during practice at the Henderson International School in Henderson, Jan. 19, 2012.

The NBA Summer League packed up last weekend, but Las Vegas’ summer basketball overload isn’t done quite yet.

Starting Wednesday night, this town gets taken over by the top high school players from across the country and the swarms of scouts, coaches and fans who will watch their every move. This is the last open evaluating period for college coaches this summer, and with three major tournaments in town — the adidas Super 64, the Fab 48 and the Las Vegas Classic — Las Vegas will again be the center of attention.

Shuffling around in those crowds will be UNLV coach Dave Rice and his staff, who have some important work to do on their home turf. Rice doesn’t have to carry quite the load he did this time last year when the Rebels had four vacancies in the class of 2012. With two players already committed — Findlay Prep forward Christian Wood and 2011 commit Dantley Walker, who is in the middle of a two-year church mission — Rice has just one 2013 vacancy, though the staff anticipates two with the likely departure of junior-to-be forward Mike Moser to the NBA.

That means that while the Rebels have their eyes on a few players in the 2013 class, they’re also doing significant legwork on the class of 2014. With only one target, 2014 Baltimore forward Dwayne Morgan, playing out of town, there’s a lot for UNLV to see over the next few days.

Maneuvering between the different tournament venues is always tricky, and this year will be no different. There was some last-minute shuffling, but that, at least for now, appears to have calmed down.

In an effort to simplify the process and give fans a chance to catch a glimpse of some potential future Rebels, we’ve provided a breakdown of where and when to find UNLV targets during the tournaments’ pool play from Wednesday to Friday. Each event will conclude this weekend with at least some type of bracket play, but this gives fans at least a chance to see the players UNLV has targeted.

Subject to change

CLASS OF 2013

Click to enlarge photo

Findlay Prep's Christian Wood drives to the basket during practice at the Henderson International School campus Monday, March 26 2012.

Prospects: Wood, Rashad Muhammad

Team: Las Vegas Prospects

Tournament: Fab 48

Location: Bishop Gorman

When: Wednesday — 7:15 p.m., Court 2 vs. Play Hard/Play Smart Elite; Thursday — 9:15 a.m., Court 3 vs. Wisconsin Playmakers and 7:15 p.m., Court 1 vs. Mater Dei Monarchs; Friday — 2:15 p.m., Court 2 vs. DJH5.

Thoughts: Wood is already in the fold, but UNLV can show support while also getting a closer look at Rashad, otherwise known as Shabazz’s little brother. Muhammad has a lot to prove, which makes this a very important tournament for him.

Prospects: Class of ’13: Isaac Hamilton; Class of ’14: Devin Burleson, Namon Wright

Team: Dream Vision

Tournament: Super 64

Location: Rancho High

When: Wednesday — 6:20 p.m., Main Gym vs. New Heights NYC; Thursday — 10:40 a.m., Main Gym vs. Garner Road Basketball Club and 5:20 p.m., Auxiliary Gym vs. Mass Rivals.

Thoughts: Isaac and younger brother Daniel, who is on Dream Vision's roster but is playing with Belmont Shore in the Fab 48, play on the same high school team as Devin Burleson. Isaac is ranked No. 12 by Rivals in the 2013 class while Daniel, who’s a little bigger but not quite as skilled, is ranked No. 22 in 2014. They haven’t said for certain they will go to the same school, but that seems to be the feeling in recruiting circles. Burleson, a strong power forward, is a little banged up and may not be able to play, according to coach Clayton Williams. Wright is a 6-foot-3 guard and ranks No. 54 in his class.

Prospect: Jaron Hopkins

Team: The Magic

Tournament: Super 64

Location: Rancho High

When: Wednesday — 9 p.m., North Gym vs. Franchize Allstars; Thursday — 2:40 p.m., Auxiliary Gym vs. Utah Pump 'N Run Red; Friday — 9:20 a.m., Auxiliary Gym vs. Minnesota Pump 'N Run.

Thoughts: Considered by many to be the top prospect in Arizona, Hopkins has the skills to play just about anywhere in the country. He will be playing at a new high school this fall.

Prospect: Jermaine Lawrence

Team: New York Rens

Tournament: Fab 48

Location: Bishop Gorman

When: Thursday — 10:30 a.m., Court 2 vs. Belmont Shore and 9:45 p.m., Court 3 vs. M33M; Friday — 1 p.m., Court 1 vs. Net Gain Sports.

Thoughts: Ranked No. 19 in his class, Lawrence is on the radar of just about every major program throughout the country. He already has offers from Syracuse, Florida and Kansas, according to Rivals. Listed at 6-foot-9, 200 pounds, he’s built similarly to incoming UNLV freshman Demetris Morant.

Malcolm Allen (right) and Dallin Layton are fired up after Allen hit a three against Palo Verde during their game Tuesday, February 9, 2011 at Palo Verde High School. Centennial won the game 74-57.

Malcolm Allen (right) and Dallin Layton are fired up after Allen hit a three against Palo Verde during their game Tuesday, February 9, 2011 at Palo Verde High School. Centennial won the game 74-57.

Prospects: Marcus Allen, Malcolm Allen

Team: Magic Red

Tournament: Fab 48

Location: Bishop Gorman

When: Thursday — 4:45 p.m., Court 1 vs. TX Bluechips Navy; Friday — 11:45 a.m., Court 2 vs. Los Angeles Rockfish and 6 p.m., Court 3 vs. Grassroots Canada.

Thoughts: The Allen twins are a bit off the radar compared with UNLV’s other targets, but the guards would have the chance to thrive with some time to learn. You can also catch them this fall at Centennial.

CLASS OF 2014 IN 17U POOLS*

*These guys will be playing up a class. Collected thoughts at the bottom

Prospect: Shaqquan Aaron

Team: LAX

Tournament: Fab 48

Location: Bishop Gorman

When: Thursday — 4:45 p.m., Court 3 vs. Florida Showtime Ballers; Friday — 10:30 a.m., Court 1 vs. Truth Trojans and 7:15 p.m., Court 2 vs. Game Elite.

Prospect: Jordan McLaughlin

Team: Prodigy Elite

Tournament: Fab 48

Location: Bishop Gorman

When: Wednesday — 8:30 p.m., Court 2 vs. Aim High; Thursday — 11:45 a.m., Court 3 vs. SEBL and 8:30 p.m., Court 1 vs. Texas Select; Friday — 1 p.m., Court 2 vs. Nevada Wolverines.

Prospect: Bryan Alberts

Team: BTI Pump ‘N Run

Tournament: Las Vegas Classic

Location: Durango High

When: Wednesday — 8:25 p.m., Court 1 vs. Emerald City Pioneers; Thursday — 10:10 a.m., Court 1 vs. Arizona Stars; Friday — 9:05 a.m., Court 2 vs. Texas DI Ambassadors Morse.

Prospect: Stanley Johnson

Team: Oakland Soldiers*

Tournament: Las Vegas Classic

Location: Durango High

When: Thursday — 4:40 p.m., Court 1 vs. Cal Supreme; Friday — 11:15 a.m., Court 1 vs. Louisiana Elite and 7:55 p.m., Court 1 vs. Seattle Rotary Select I.

*It’s possible, but unlikely, Johnson will instead play for his high school-affiliated team.

Prospect: Parker Jackson-Cartwright

Team: Cal Supreme

Tournament: Las Vegas Classic

Location: Durango High

When: Thursday — 4:40 p.m., Court 1 vs. Oakland Soldiers; Friday — 2:30 p.m., Court 1 vs. Seattle Rotary Select I and 6:50 p.m., Court 1 vs. Louisiana Elite.

Thoughts: Jackson-Cartwright is small — 5-foot-9, 140 pounds — but that hasn’t stopped the elite programs from chasing this top-30 target. Johnson has a similar build to the influx of athletic wing players (think Savon Goodman and Roscoe Smith) at UNLV, and he goes to the same high school as incoming freshman Katin Reinhardt. The staff really likes what it sees from both Aaron and McLaughlin.

Canyon Springs High School sophomore Shaquile Carr practices with the Las Vegas Prospects at Durango High School in Las Vegas, May 22, 2012.

Canyon Springs High School sophomore Shaquile Carr practices with the Las Vegas Prospects at Durango High School in Las Vegas, May 22, 2012.

CLASS OF 2014

Prospect: Shaquile Carr

Team: Las Vegas Prospects 16

Tournament: Fab 48

When/Where: Wednesday — 6 p.m., Bishop Gorman Court 1 vs. Team Superstar; Thursday — 9:15 a.m., Centennial Hills YMCA Court 2 vs. Iowa Barnstormers and 7:15 p.m., Centennial Hills YMCA Court 3 vs. Team Philly; Friday — 2:15 p.m., Centennial Hills YMCA Court 1 vs. Grassroots Elite.

Prospect: Malik Pope

Team: Team Superstar 16

Tournament: Fab 48

When/Where: Wednesday — 6 p.m., Bishop Gorman Court 1 vs. Las Vegas Prospects 16; Thursday — 3:30 p.m., Centennial Hills YMCA Court 2 vs. Team Breakdown; Friday — 11:45 a.m., Centennial Hills YMCA Court 3 vs. Team Scan and 7:15 p.m., Centennial Hills Court 1 vs. Game Elite.

Prospect: Daniel Hamilton

Team: Belmont Shore

Tournament: Fab 48

Location: Bishop Gorman

When: Thursday — 10:30 a.m., Court 2 vs. New York Rens and 8:30 p.m., Court 3 vs. Net Gain Sports; Friday — 3:30 p.m., Court 1 vs. M33M.

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.

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