Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

UNLV BASKETBALL:

After a moment of clarity this summer, Grandy Glaze excited to be a Rebel

Rivals.com’s No. 83 prospect in 2011 class excited for potential growth in Las Vegas

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Grandy Glaze

Committing to UNLV was something Grandy Glaze just got around to this week.

In truth, he had a feeling a few months ago that playing his college ball in Las Vegas was highly likely.

Glaze, a 6-foot-6, 235-pound power forward from Toronto, took part in UNLV's annual elite camp last summer and can recall one play in particular.

During a scrimmage, when an opposing player launched an outside shot, instead of attacking the glass, Glaze raced down the floor the other way in order to set himself up for a potential outlet pass followed by a vicious slam.

Instead, he left his teammate in the post out to dry, as the opposition crashed the glass hard and scored on an easy put-back.

Typically, no matter what any of the players do, getting scolded by a coach at an elite camp is almost never expected.

UNLV assistant Greg Grensing, who works with the Rebels' big men, isn't just any coach, apparently.

"He grilled me about it," Glaze said, recalling it with a chuckle. "I think that's something no player in the country can say they've experienced at an elite camp.

"Right there, I realized that coach Grensing wants the best from me. He'll push me, and that's what I need."

It's wild to imagine what an even bigger push from his coaches could do for Glaze, who as a junior this season at Proctor Academy in New Hampshire averaged roughly 20 points and 13 rebounds per game.

Ranked as the No. 83 prospect in the 2011 class by Rivals.com and the No. 14 power forward in the lot, the UNLV coaches loved what they saw of Glaze not only in his two appearances at Rebels elite camps, but also when he was playing in a summer prep tournament in July with Team Takeover Canada.

What got Grensing so heated at that moment at the elite camp was probably the fact that not going after boards is so uncharacteristic for Glaze, who many say is naturally aggressive in that department.

At 6-foot-6, he plays a bullish style of ball, with a wide, strong frame and big hands. He'll only continue to develop next season as a senior, when he'll be playing at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass. It's the same program which once had current NBA standout Michael Beasley on its roster.

"They play four out (of the paint), one in," Glaze said when asked what he likes about UNLV's system. "For two years, I've averaged 20-plus points, and I'd say 60 percent of them come off of fast breaks, with either me handling it and finishing or catching it and finishing. UNLV loves to run, and that's where I excel the most."

Glaze, who said he specializes in playing in both the high post and on the wing, also had scholarship offers on the table from Minnesota, West Virginia, South Florida, St. Joseph's and Xavier.

But playing the waiting game wasn't an attractive option.

"This is exactly what I wanted," he said of the early commitment. "I felt it would be best for me to commit now. Then, when the summer time rolls around and senior year rolls around, I can just focus on what I need to improve on."

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Cory Joseph

Of course, when many UNLV fans hear that Glaze is from Toronto, the question pops up rather quickly: Is he close with Cory Joseph?

Joseph, the Findlay Prep super-guard who Rivals ranks as the No. 7 player in the 2010 class, is one of the nation's most coveted unsigned senior talents remaining. His firm list of five finalists includes — in no particular order — UNLV, Minnesota, Texas, Villanova and UConn.

Glaze said he doesn't know Joseph personally, but played with him in a Canadian camp roughly four years ago and could tell, both back then and by watching Joseph now on national TV with the Pilots, that he's something special.

"We played with each other a couple of times," Glaze said. "He's excellent. He's a great point guard, sees the floor, can really shoot it. I think he's a pro in a few years."

But whether Lon Kruger and his staff land Cory Joseph, Westchester (Calif.) High's Dwayne Polee or any of their other 2010 targets is not quite as big a concern as filling out the 2011 class, which still has at least three spots remaining. The Rebels will return almost their entire roster from the current NCAA tournament-bound team next season and will add 6-foot-11 redshirting freshman Carlos Lopez and 6-foot-7 Kansas transfer Quintrell Thomas into the mix.

UNLV will have four scholarships to fill in the 2011 class, spots that currently are occupied by Tre'Von Willis, Derrick Jasper, Matt Shaw and Kendall Wallace.

And as far as completing the 2011 class goes, Glaze committing makes for quite the starting point.

"I'm a good teammate, I love basketball and love teams," he said. "If you're on my team, you're my boy. If you're not on my team, you're my worst enemy. I'm gonna come in there and I'm just gonna make the best out of it. I just want to win championships."

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