Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Rebels quick hits:

Class of 2016 guard commits to UNLV basketball

More UNLV vs. Sam Houston State

Steve Marcus

UNLV basketball coach Dave Rice applauds as the Runnin’ Rebels take on the Sam Houston State at the Thomas & Mack Center on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2014.

History and common sense tell us there will be more maneuvers for UNLV, but for now the Rebels are all set on scholarships for 2016 because today guard Christian Vital announced his commitment on Twitter.

“Much prayer has been put into this and I have come to point where I feel they have been answered. My family, coaches, friends, and supporters have made this proceeds (sic) unbelievable for me and one I will never forget,” he tweeted.

Listed at 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, Vital took an official visit to UNLV last weekend. His other offers came from schools including Boston College, VCU and SMU. UNLV was the only school in the Pacific time zone to make an offer.

Vital is originally from New York and will play his final prep season at St. Thomas More in Oakdale, Conn. He’s a combo guard known mostly for his shooting prowess behind the 3-point line.

Vital joins former Findlay Prep forward Justin Jackson, who is using his final prep year at Hill Academy in Ontario, Canada, in UNLV’s class of 2016. That fills the two scholarships that will be left vacant by seniors Jerome Seagears and Ike Nwamu.

Even though the Rebels are full on scholarships, the other recent visitors aren’t fretting. As is always the case, there will be further departures either to a pro future or another collegiate destination, so the Rebels will still be involved with guards Kobi Simmons and Jaylen Fisher, among others, going forward.

UNLV also recently added a second walk-on as San Diego native Alex Perez will join the Rebels for his senior season. He previously played at St. Katherine. Freshman Austin Starr, a Foothill High grad, is UNLV’s other nonscholarship player.

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

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