Local class of 2015 forward Nate Grimes to take unofficial visit to UNLV

By Taylor Bern

Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013 | 9:15 a.m.

Local class of 2015 forward Nate Grimes will take an unofficial visit to UNLV on Wednesday, August 28, according to Las Vegas Knicks coach Lamar Bigby.

“I talked to coach (Dave) Rice last night,” Bigby said today. “They watched him quite a bit over the summer.”

Grimes, who plays for the Knicks and attends Desert Pines High, is a unique prospect. He’s 6-foot-7 with a wingspan Bigby guesses is more than seven feet. ESPN.com ranks him as the 39th best small forward in the country and the fourth best class of 2015 recruit in the state.

However, Grimes only started playing basketball two years ago, as a freshman at Cheyenne High, and he was ineligible last season. He hasn’t played a single varsity game yet.

The interest and offers he’s getting are strictly based on potential and his play during the summer. Grimes already holds offers from Utah State, San Jose State, Southern Utah and Loyola Marymount.

Bigby said that during the September evaluation period a slew of schools were planning to come watch Grimes, including San Diego State, UCLA, Virginia Tech and New Mexico, among others. Bigby guessed that by the time the season starts Grimes might have about eight offers.

Bigby, who played for UNLV under Charlie Spoonhour, put the chance of UNLV being one of those at 50/50. If the Rebels do offer Grimes it would only reinforce their local focus in the 2015 class.

The three Nevadans ESPN ranked above Grimes — center Stephen Zimmerman and forwards Chase Jeter and Ray Smith — already hold UNLV offers.

This news moves the streak of UNLV recruiting news up to three days. On Monday UNLV filled out its 2013 class with a commitment from southern California power forward Jamal Aytes. Then on Tuesday the Rebels survived to the final five for class of 2014 forward Goodluck Okonoboh.

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