Tyrin Jones will be back for sophomore season with UNLV basketball
UNLV forward Tyrin Jones (6) hangs on the rim after dunking against Utah State during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Mountain West Championships tournament Thursday, March 12, 2026. UNLV fell to Utah State 80-60. Photo by: Steve Marcus
Friday, March 27, 2026 | 11:07 a.m.
Forward Tyrin Jones will return for his sophomore season with UNLV basketball, the program posted this morning on social media.
The 6-foot-9 forward had a standout freshman campaign, averaging 11.9 points, five rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game — numbers that quickly made him one of the most important pieces in coach Josh Pastner’s roster.
Retaining the Las Vegas native was widely considered the program’s top offseason priority, particularly in an era defined by constant roster turnover through the NCAA Transfer Portal and the lure of lucrative NIL deals elsewhere.
Jones staying, one can argue, speaks volumes about the direction of the program.
The fit makes sense for both sides.
UNLV closed the season by winning 8 of its final 13 games, with Jones emerging as a catalyst down the stretch. He improved steadily under Pastner’s staff, and the Rebels showed real promise when he was at his best. That momentum gives both player and program plenty of reason for optimism heading into next year.
Now attention turns to retaining another key piece: junior guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, a first-team All-Mountain West selection who averaged 20 points per game last season.