Fan willing to name child after Shabazz Muhammad if recruit signs with UNLV

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011 | 2:05 a.m.

Here’s how dedicated UNLV basketball fans are in their courtship of top recruit Shabazz Muhammad: One is apparently willing to name his child after the Bishop Gorman High forward if he signs with the scarlet and gray.

Muhammad, being interviewed for television two weeks ago at the Boost Mobile Elite 24 all-star game in Venice Beach, Calif., talked about Rebels’ fans obsession in keeping the prized prospect in Las Vegas, including the namesake honor.

A video interview from the event was posted Monday by ESPN prep sports blogger Jason Jordan, with him writing, “If their spirited ploys to keep Muhammad home are any indication, UNLV fans may very well be giving the Rebels a slight advantage.”

Muhammad, who is the No. 1-ranked overall prospect for the class of 2012 by every recruiting service, spoke about how as many as 200 fans regularly show up at Gorman practices wearing UNLV jerseys with his No. 15. That pales in comparison, however, to naming your child “Shabazz.”

UNLV has three commitments for the class of 2012, recently receiving a verbal from Gorman power forward Demetris Morant.

The others are Baltimore point guard Daquan Cook and California combo guard Katin Reinhardt, who saw the Rebels’ fans obsession firsthand this summer during AAU tournaments in Las Vegas. The fans went to all of his games and were vocal in letting him know the benefits of playing for UNLV.

Here's the link to the video.