Zimmerman’s former suitors still smitten with Rebels’ freshman big man

By Taylor Bern

Sunday, Nov. 22, 2015 | 3:15 p.m.

Once Stephen Zimmerman Jr. narrowed down his final five college choices, there was a 60 percent chance he’d be in Maui this week. The only question was his city of departure.

Back in April, Zimmerman announced he would stay home and play for UNLV coach Dave Rice. Now, two of the other coaches who spent a lot of time recruiting the Bishop Gorman High big man could get a chance to face the player they wanted suiting up in their colors.

UNLV (3-0) tips off its Maui Jim Maui Invitational at 8:30 p.m. Las Vegas time Monday against UCLA (2-1), which was one of Zimmerman’s other five finalists along with Kentucky, Arizona and Kansas. Coach Steve Alford and Rice haven’t gone head to head on many players since the former New Mexico coach jumped to Los Angeles three years ago, and this was a recruiting victory they both wanted desperately.

That win went to Rice, and Alford knows his front court will have their hands full trying to get an on-court win Monday night on ESPN2.

“(Zimmerman) didn’t get enough credit for what he does defensively in blocking shots and how he passes the ball,” Alford said Sunday morning at a gathering for all eight coaches in the tournament. “There’s just not a lot that he does that’s not really good for your basketball team.”

If the Rebels win, they likely will face No. 4 Kansas (1-1), which will drop in Monday’s polls following a loss to Michigan State. That defeat doesn’t make them any less dangerous in this event, though, and since the Jayhawks start with Division II Chaminade at 6 p.m. Monday, they probably have spent more time than most teams on their possible second opponent.

Kansas coach Bill Self routinely brings in top-10 recruiting classes, including a pair of top-25 big men in this year’s class, so Zimmerman was more of a luxury in Lawrence. Still, it’s one they really wanted because Self felt Zimmerman’s production (12.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks per game) was easy to project, and just like most coaches he also fell in love with the 7-footer’s passing.

“Of the freshmen that are out there that I thought would be considered good prospects … I thought he was as prepared to help a team win immediately as anybody out there. And I think that’s been true,” Self said. “He’s been well coached, he’s had a lot of experiences, and what I think he does best is pass.”

Zimmerman passed on UCLA and Kansas (and Kentucky and Arizona) to become a hometown hero. He was always supposed to be here in Maui this week, and soon he’ll get a chance to pass his other possible destinations in the bracket.

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