Rebuild in progress: UNLV basketball roster projection 1.0

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Sunday, March 13, 2022 | 3 a.m.

UNLV basketball is going to look very different next season, both in terms of roster and style of play. Without Bryce Hamilton to carry the offensive load, others are going to have to step up in a big way, and we don’t know yet whether those players are already in the program or whether they’re going to come from outside via the transfer portal.

Given what we do know about the 2022-23 roster — which is far from a complete picture at this point — here’s an early projection:

STARTING LINEUP

Guard: Keshon Gilbert, sophomore

Gilbert began the year in a limited role, which was expected for the only true freshman on the team. By the end of the season, however, he had proven himself to be a lockdown on-ball defender and a hard-nosed hustle player worthy of big minutes. For the season, Gilbert led UNLV in steal rate (5.0%) and defensive plus/minus (+4.7). In UNLV’s only Mountain West tournament game, Gilbert got the nod down the stretch, playing the final 10 minutes ahead of Jordan McCabe. If Kruger trusted him to that extent with the season on the line, it’s safe to pencil him in for an expanded role in 2022-23.

Guard: Open

Jordan McCabe started at point guard this season and led the team with 4.8 assists, but he attempted just 6.5 field goals per game and shot 33.5%. A point guard who averages 6.4 points may not be the best backcourt partner next to the defensive-minded Gilbert, especially on a team that is losing Hamilton and is most likely going to need scoring. Expect one of Kruger’s top priorities in the transfer portal to be a lead guard type who can handle the ball and shoot.

Forward: Donovan Williams, senior

After two years as an afterthought on the Texas roster, Williams tapped into his potential in a big way at UNLV. The 6-foot-7 wing averaged 12.7 points, second-best on the team, and knocked down a team-leading 43.6% from 3-point range, answering the single biggest question about his game. And because of Covid-19 he still has two years of eligibility remaining. Williams has been a portal home run for Kruger and he will be a cornerstone in 22-23.

Forward: Open

Judging by Kruger’s lineup management this season, it appears he wants to play two big men together when he can. That approach works best when he can plug a versatile defender into this spot, someone with the size and agility to match up in the paint or on the perimeter. Victor Iwuakor was the preferred option this year and could win the job permanently in training camp, but he wasn’t available consistently enough to mark him as the starter at power forward heading into next season. The portal could yield competition, or 4-star recruit KyeRon Lindsay could push for the job.

Center: David Muoka, senior

Like Williams, the Covid-19 year means Muoka can opt to stay at UNLV for two more seasons. That’s huge, because no one on the roster improved more throughout the 2021-22 campaign than Muoka, an athletic 6-foot-11 shot blocker who is capable of playing above the rim like few big men in the Mountain West. Royce Hamm was dependable as a grandfather clock this season; Muoka is not nearly as consistent, but his upside is considerable. Speaking immediately after the season-ending loss to Wyoming, Kruger seemed excited about Muoka’s development. He’ll go into 22-23 as the starting center unless something amazing happens in the portal.

BENCH (rotation)

Guard: Jordan McCabe, senior

McCabe finally got an opportunity to run an offense full-time this year and did a fine job, averaging a team-high 4.8 assists. So why is he being projected to the bench? It’s about fit, and specifically about making room for Gilbert.

Guard: Justin Webster, senior

Shooting is always valuable, and Webster came on late in the season as a quick-trigger scorer off the bench. He made 35.3% from 3-point range and also showed an ability to get into the lane and get off a nice floater. He’s definitely more of a shooting guard than a point guard, but at 6-foot-3 he’s probably too undersized to be a starting 2 in the Mountain West. As a microwave-type reserve, Webster could excel.

Forward: Victor Iwuakor, senior

Iwaukor emerged as UNLV’s starting power forward over the second half of the 2021-22 campaign and the coaching staff remains high on his upside, but it’s hard to pencil him into the starting five next year based on his health. It seemed like Iwuakor was never available for more than a few games at a time, and he missed the Mountain West tournament with a recurring shoulder injury. For the season he played just 259 minutes, 10^th-most on the team. An offseason of rest may help him get back to 100%, but UNLV will likely be looking for a reliable big man in the transfer portal.

Forward: KyeRon Lindsay, freshman

UNLV fans should be thrilled to welcome Lindsay, a 6-foot-8 forward who provides athleticism and scoring touch in the frontcourt. Rated the No. 83 player in the nation, he averaged 23.4 points and 11.6 rebounds per game as a senior at Guyer High School. Lindsay could end up playing a key role in his first year, especially if he can pick up the defensive nuances of Kruger’s system.

BENCH (depth)

Guard: Josh Baker, senior

Baker has good size for an off-ball guard at 6-foot-6, but his shooting accuracy didn’t translate to the Mountain West as well as his juco numbers suggested (for the season he made just 26.4% from 3-point range). Injuries also hampered his production.

Forward: Reece Brown, junior

Brown hasn’t played much in his two years at UNLV, and his ledger is still far more weighted toward potential than production. He’s looking at a crowded position battle in training camp.

OPEN SCHOLARSHIPS: 2

Like last offseason, Kruger will focus on bringing in mature, experienced college transfers. And he has earned the benefit of the doubt as a portal scout after hitting on Donovan Williams, Royce Hamm, Victor Iwuakor and David Muoka. On the high school front, UNLV is still involved with two recruits in the Class of 2022: 4-star center Keba Keita and 3-star center Adrame Diongue, and they should be announcing their decisions soon.

Based on this projection, needs for 2022-23 include a lead scoring guard, a versatile forward and 3-point shooting. If the program is going to build on 2021-22 and take another step forward in Kruger’s second year, he’s going to have to put together another successful offseason.

Edit: In doing the roster math, I initially forgot to factor in Marvin Coleman's transfer. The senior guard was removed from the team at midseason and entered the portal last week, so that should free up another scholarship. It's a good example of how fluid the roster is and how active the transfer portal will be in the coming weeks. Thanks to the comment section for pointing it out.

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