Rebels land another commitment in loaded class of 2014

By Taylor Bern

Tuesday, May 20, 2014 | 1:18 p.m.

Last week, Jordan Cornish told the Sun great players want to play with other great players. Today the class of 2014 guard committed to do just that, becoming the newest member of UNLV’s top 5-ranked recruiting class.

“The chance to play with (this) recruiting class … it’s a blessing and an opportunity,” Cornish said from Back 2 Basics Basketball Academy in New Orleans. His announcement was streamed on NOLA.com.

A 6-foot-6, 210-pound guard, Cornish signed a letter of intent last year to play at Tennessee. Last month, when Volunteers coach Cuonzo Martin left for California, Cornish was granted a release and reopened his search for a school. He visited Wake Forest and Nebraska before swinging through Las Vegas last weekend.

Cornish already has a friend on the UNLV roster in fellow incoming freshman guard Rashad Vaughn. The two met during various camps and summer tournaments and previously discussed playing together. When Cornish received his release, Vaughn started texting about the idea of teaming up in the desert.

“We would talk every day, even when I was committed to Tennessee,” Cornish said. “When UNLV offered me, he was the first one to call.”

Cornish, who attends Brother Martin High in New Orleans, is the fifth high school player in the incoming class and the eighth player expected to join the program for next season. Besides Vaughn, the Rebels have signed commitments from forwards Dwayne Morgan and Goodluck Okonoboh as well as senior guard transfer Cody Doolin. UNLV also has verbal commitments from class of 2014 guard Patrick McCaw, senior transfer guard Jerome Seagears and junior transfer forward Ben Carter.

If all eight of those players are on scholarship this fall it would put the Rebels over the NCAA limit (13) by one. That means there’s a possibility that a current player won’t return or someone would have to go without a scholarship.

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