UNLV basketball back on court as summer practice set to begin

By Mike Grimala (contact)

Monday, June 10, 2024 | 2 a.m.

When the UNLV basketball team opens summer practice today, it will be the first time the 2024-25 squad assembles on the court in any official capacity. But for the key players, it’s been there, done that.

That’s just how coach Kevin Kruger wants it.

Unlike most of the Mountain West, UNLV was able to hold onto a core group of returners from last year’s crew, which went 21-13 overall and 12-6 in conference play, good for second place in a very competitive, top-heavy league.

Sophomore D.J. Thomas is the headliner, with seniors Rob Whaley and Jalen Hill and sophomore Brooklyn Hicks also back from last season’s rotation. Senior Isaiah Cottrell returns for a third year at UNLV, and Jacob Bannarbie will be active after redshirting as a true freshman.

It’s a quality group, and Kruger expects to lean on his veterans to set the tone during the summer window.

“I think having the experience of a year is huge,” Kruger said. “Knowing what the days are going to be like, what practices are going to be like. Especially for D.J., being a year early, and now Rob coming from juco, he now has a year under his belt. It gives them an advantage of knowing how to prepare.”

Whaley is one player benefiting from that experience. He admits that his first year at the Division-I level sped by, and it took him nearly half the season to catch up. Once he figured things out, the 6-foot-6 forward started the final 16 games, and in Mountain West play Whaley averaged 9.8 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 63.8% from the field.

Now heading into his senior year, he plans to hit the ground running.

“I definitely had to adjust,” Whaley said. “One thing I learned is how important defense is. I never really understood how the more you can guard, the more you’ll play. As you saw, at the beginning of the year I didn’t play a lot, so it took some time. Small things like that.”

The NCAA allows eight weeks of practices while school is in session during the summer, with each program determining how they want to spread out that window. Each week consists of four hours of on-court training and four hours of strength and conditioning work.

Thomas is recovering from offseason wrist surgery and won't be ready to participate at the start of practice, but he is expected to join the on-court activities soon; Hill is still rehabbing the ACL injury that ended his campaign in January. The rest of the roster is currently enrolled and cleared to suit up on Monday.

UNLV will welcome seven newcomers during the summer session. Wing James Evans and big man Pape N’Diaye are true freshmen, Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry is a juco center, and transfers Jailen Bedford (Oral Roberts), Jaden Henley (DePaul), Jace Whiting (Boise State) and Julian Rishwain (Florida) add skill and depth on the perimeter.

Evans, who was UNLV's first 2024 commit, is raring to get started.

“I’m just looking forward to getting to know my teammates, building that camaraderie,” Evans said. “I’ve been in contact with all the guys. I feel like this team right here is going to be a great team for UNLV. We’re all going to click when we get on that court.”

Whaley kept tabs as the UNLV coaches worked the recruiting trail, and he is a fan of what they did to augment the returning nucleus.

“I really like the guys that we brought in,” Whaley said. “We’ve got a lot of guys that can shoot the ball, and guys like James who are freak athletes. And Bear — I never thought I’d run into somebody bigger than me. These guys are great. It’s going to be a fun team next year.”

UNLV came on strong late last year and qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2013, winning two games in the NIT, and the program wants to sustain that momentum into the 2024-25 campaign.

Thomas was the driving force in UNLV’s resurgence. He reclassified to graduate from Liberty High School and join the program a year early, and he was a hit from the opening tip, starting all 34 games and posting 13.6 points and 5.1 assists. 

There was some offseason anxiety as big programs eyed Thomas, but the Las Vegas native never entered the transfer portal and will once again suit up for his hometown team.

Whaley, who was roommates with Thomas last year, said he was sure Thomas would be back at UNLV.

“I talk to D.J. quite a bit, and there was never a doubt in my mind that he was going anywhere. That’s just how he is. He’s D.J. He loves being here, he loves playing with us and we love playing with him. It was never a nerve-wracking thing. I would tease him about it now and again, but there was never a doubt.”

Now it will be up to Thomas, Whaley and the rest of the returning cast to provide a stable foundation for the 2024-25 team. That means on-court production and off-court leadership, beginning this summer.

With a year of experience under his belt, Whaley said he is more comfortable and ready to take on a leadership role.

“Nowadays, with how the transfer portal is, it’s super important to have a core coming back, especially with guys that know how to play together,” he said. “That chemistry is how you help the other players coming in, and we have that.”

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