Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Keshon Gilbert proving to be UNLV’s type of recruit

Durango Basketball Practice

Wade Vandervort

Durango’s Keshon Gilbert practices, Monday, Feb. 24, 2020.

Keshon Gilbert was the first player from the Class of 2021 to commit to UNLV basketball when he pledged way back in September 2019 — before newly hired T.J. Otzelberger had even coached a game.

At the time, Gilbert was viewed as an up-and-coming prospect in Las Vegas, a tough, versatile guard whose value was derived from defense and intangibles — the kind of stuff that rankings sites tend to overlook. But Otzelberger saw something in him, and the coach’s faith is being rewarded.

After another strong season at the point for Durango (14 points, five assists per game as a junior), Gilbert is turning into the kind of recruit that should get UNLV fans excited. Gilbert is currently rated as the No. 190 player in the nation by 247Sports and the No. 30 point guard, but Otzelberger and the rest of the staff undoubtedly like him a lot more than that.

In a Desert Regional semifinal game in February, Gilbert led his Durango team back from a 16-point deficit to beat Coronado. Gilbert scored 16 points on the night, made a ton of hustle plays and contributed to a solid defensive effort against 5-star Coronado guard Jaden Hardy. That’s the type of skill set Otzelberger tends to favor, and Gilbert knows that.

That’s why he believes he and Otzelberger will be a perfect fit together at UNLV.

“We both have that dog mentality,” Gilbert said. “We’ll do anything to win. We have that fire in us. We have that winning spirit. Not a lot of people have that.”

Before he gets to UNLV, Gilbert is heading to St. Louis to play his senior season at powerhouse Vashon High School. He said the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t kept him from working out as usual this summer and that his high school schedule hasn’t been affected either.

The 6-foot-3, 176-pounder has been spending most of his free time fine-tuning his jumper.

“I’ve definitely been working on my shot and it’s been getting better, more consistent,” Gilbert said. “It’s just getting the reps up and shooting it the same way every time.”

Gilbert isn’t the only point guard UNLV is hoping to bring in as part of the 2021 class, of course. He realizes the program is also recruiting his friend, Bishop Gorman senior Zaon Collins, who is much more heralded as a 4-star prospect and the No. 39 player in the nation.

Rather than getting territorial about his position, Gilbert welcomed the idea of adding an elite player like Collins to the UNLV backcourt next year.

“That’s my boy,” Gilbert said of Collins. “We’re real close. I’ve been playing against him for two years now. We’re not friends on the court, but off the court we chop it up about the game. We’ve become closer over time.”

If Collins were to commit and join Gilbert in the incoming class next year, it’s conceivable that UNLV could play multiple point guards at the same time. NBA teams have embraced the idea: Oklahoma City (Chris Paul and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), Toronto (Kyle Lowry and Fred Van Vleet) and Boston (Kemba Walker and Marcus Smart) play the majority of their minutes with two point guards sharing the backcourt, and UNLV even got in on the trend down the stretch last year, as the team played its best ball with Marvin Coleman and Elijah Mitrou-Long serving as dual points.

NCAA rules prohibit Otzelberger from commenting on unsigned recruits, but the coach clearly believes in a guard-heavy approach to roster construction.

“The teams that are the best offenses have multiple guys that can initiate offense and also make plays,” Otzelberger said. “As we continue to look at lineups with four guards, we’re really going to look to have multiple point guards and ball-handlers on the floor at once to create the free-flowing, up-tempo system we’re trying to generate on offense.”

Gilbert is on board with sharing with another point guard, especially if it turns out to be his buddy from back home.

“I think that system would be really good for me and Zaon,” he said. “Zaon has that winning spirit too, so me and Zaon, I think we’re going to click when we get on the court together.”

Winning is the bottom line for Gilbert.

“I’m a person that does anything to win,” he said. “I put it all on the court. I’m going to lead the team, pass first and get buckets when I have to. I’m going to defend, rebound and do everything it takes to win.”

Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.

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