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UNLV Basketball: Rebels crushing it on recruiting trail

By Doug Winkey

Feb 11, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UNLV Runnin' Rebels head coach Marvin Menzies walks off the court after the Rebels lost to the San Jose Spartans 76-74 at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 11, 2017; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UNLV Runnin' Rebels head coach Marvin Menzies walks off the court after the Rebels lost to the San Jose Spartans 76-74 at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /
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UNLV basketball had a tough year in the Mountain West with little talent, but that should change next season.

The Rebels of UNLV basketball had a tough season in which they won just 11 games and finished in last place in the Mountain West. Things needed to change fast if the program is going to reclaim a place near the top of America’s most beleaguered mid-major conference.

Related Story: Rebels land Brandon McCoy

This week alone might have changed UNLV’s fortunes. Three of the top uncommitted players in the nation have joined the Rebels in just the past few days. The first was five-star center Brandon McCoy. McCoy was the 15th best-rated player on ESPN and one of the few top 25 who had not yet signed. He is an immediate starting option for coach Marvin Menzies.

McCoy would have qualified as a win on his own, but the team grabbed two more impact guys Wednesday afternoon. Shakur Juiston will join the team after winning the JUCO national championship and the NJCAA POY award. The hybrid wing/forward turned down Iowa State and Kansas for a chance to play in Vegas. The Rebels also grabbed former Oklahoma State commit Amauri Hardy. Hardy might not be a rotation guy this year, but he is a talented depth piece for the future.

McCoy and Juiston should be immediate boosts, alongside leading returning scorer Jovan ‘JoJo’ Mooring. Improving the team’s 287th rated offense is the most obvious thing between the Rebels and Mountain West relevance. They will help the team challenge potential favorites Nevada and SDSU.

Next: Five things to look forward to for Villanova

UNLV is maxed out at 13 scholarships after Hardy and Juiston. They join other new faces to bring an eight-man recruiting class to Vegas. Youth brings big unknowns, but the Rebels have positioned themselves incredibly well with their spring recruiting efforts.