UNLV Basketball: Rebels land first 2019 recruit under TJ Otzelberger

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MARCH 28: T.J. Otzelberger speaks as he is introduced as UNLV’s new head basketball coach during a news conference at the Thomas & Mack Center on March 28, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Otzelberger most recently served as the head coach at South Dakota State. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

UNLV Basketball head coach T.J. Otzelberger secures first commitment from the class of 2019 in junior college transfer Jonah Antonio.

Two-star 2019 recruit Jonah Antonio verbally committed to the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels on April 2, becoming coach T.J. Otzelberger’s first recruit since taking over the program. Antonio selected the Rebels just a few days after cutting his list down to three finalists. SMU and Seton Hall were the other two finalists.

According to Mike Grimala of the Las Vegas Sun, Antonio was planning on visiting Seton Hall next week (April 11-13) and then making a trip to UNLV Basketball and SMU the following week. However, Oltzelberger apparently has made quite the impression on the 21-year-old.

“…there is absolutely no better opportunity for me than to beat UNLV with Coach Otzelberger, he has had a huge impact on my life since meeting him a year ago and I’m 110% committed to him and the program. I’m extremely excited to call (myself) a Rebel,” Antonio tweeted.

The 6-foot-5 sharpshooter can play both guard positions. He is also a hard-nosed defender who possesses decent athleticism.

UNLV will be the 6-foot-5 wing’s third school. The Perth, Australia, native, attended Mount St. Mary’s for one season (2017-18) before heading to South Plains (Texas) College where he averaged 11.5 points along with 4.5 rebounds, 2.8 triples and 1.9 assists a game while shooting 40.9 percent from beyond the arc this past season. He scored in double-figures on 16 occasions, topping the 20-point mark four times.

Antonio averaged 11.3 points a game as a freshman at Mount St. Mary’s. He will have two years of eligibility with the Rebels.

UNLV went 17-14 overall and 11-8 in Mountain West play. The 11 conference victories were the Rebels most since the 2010-11 campaign. Still, they won three fewer games overall than they did last year.

Otzelberger, who posted a 70-33 record in three years at South Dakota State, has his work cut out as seven players have entered the NCAA transfer portal — giving these seven players the option of leaving or returning to the team. Thus, leaving the Rebels with just six current scholarship players.

Depending on how many players do indeed return, Otzelberger could have seven scholarships left for the upcoming campaign (2019-20) or as few as one. With most of the top high school players already signed, Otzelberger will likely look at grad transfers, four-year transfers, additional juco players as well as “late” prep prospects.