UNLV awaiting word on Keylan Boone’s eligibility

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023 | 2 a.m.

When UNLV landed matching commitments from twin brothers Kalib and Keylan Boone in the spring, their additions were expected to provide an immediate jolt to a basketball program that is aiming for its first postseason berth in more than a decade. Now there are question marks surrounding both.

Senior center Kalib Boone was arrested on Sunday and charged with driving under the influence. He faces a misdemeanor DUI charge in Las Vegas Justice Court, where the case is scheduled for a status check in February, according to court records. Given the program’s recent history with impaired driving — former 5-star recruit Zaon Collins pleaded guilty in June to charges related to a fatal car wreck in 2020 — the university could levy a significant punishment.

While dealing with the initial fallout of the Kalib Boone situation, head coach Kevin Kruger revealed that Keylan Boone was still waiting to be cleared to play this season by the NCAA.

Keylan began his college career at Oklahoma State along with his brother. While the 6-foot-9 Kalib stayed four years at OSU, Keylan. who is listed as 6-feet-8, exercised the NCAA’s one-time transfer rule to move to Pacific last year. After one season there, he transferred again, landing at UNLV in April.

Because Keylan Boone already used his one-time transfer, he would have to sit out a redshirt year before becoming eligible at UNLV — unless he is granted a waiver to play immediately in 2023-24.

Kruger this week unsurprisingly confirmed he wanted Keylan Boone eligible as soon as possible.

“It’s one of those ongoing processes,” Kruger said. “We’re continuing to work for him and put things together to present a case to the NCAA to hopefully allow him to get a waiver.”

Waivers for immediate eligibility used to be easy to come by, but since the introduction of the one-time transfer rule and the transfer portal, the NCAA has seemingly begun scrutinizing those applications on a case-by-case basis.

Keylan Boone enjoyed a breakout campaign as a junior at Pacific, recording career highs in minutes (23.1 per game), points (13.9), field-goal shooting (47.7%) and 3-point accuracy (41.0%). He is projected to start on the wing for the Scarlet and Gray and provide crucial outside shooting.

Kruger believes that reuniting the twins for their final season of college ball is a good enough reason for the NCAA to sign off on the waiver.

“I think anybody that would read his story and his situation would agree that his ability to play his last year in college with his brother is a very big deal to him. If they see it that way, then I think we’ll get a favorable ruling.”

Kalib Boone, whose DUI case is scheduled for a status check in February according to Las Vegas Justice Court records, has one year of NCAA eligibility remaining. Keylan Boone flirted with entering the NBA draft last year before deciding to return to school (at which time he transferred to UNLV). So if the NCAA doesn’t grant a waiver, there’s no guarantee Keylan Boone will sit out a redshirt season and stick around to suit up for the Scarlet and Gray in 2024-25.

Kruger said Keylan Boone and the program have to be ready for whichever way the NCAA rules.

“While we know and understand there’s a lot of people asking for those four-four-four waivers, we feel that Keylan’s situation is a little bit more unique, and hopefully the NCAA will look it that way,” he said. “But if not, he’ll just have to dust himself off and still get ready to come in the next day.”

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