LAS VEGAS — Josh Pastner wants his second UNLV team playing faster, pressuring the basketball and forcing opponents to deal with the Rebels before they can settle into possessions. Tuesday offered the first extended look at how some of that could work once the roster gets closer to full strength.
“We’re a hard-playing team,” Pastner said. “Grit, toughness, we’re gonna play with great speed.”
Pastner later said he wants UNLV to “be the Runnin’ Rebels” and play up tempo. Terrance Ford Jr. said that approach was part of his recruitment, with Pastner telling him a smaller point guard has to make opposing ballhandlers uncomfortable before they reach half court.
“He told me, being a small guard, you gotta pick up 94 feet,” Ford said.
That pressure showed up during the open portion of practice, and Ford was not the only guard applying it. Suttle has already earned Ford’s attention by challenging him full court, while Kiss stood out with his size and perimeter shooting. Jones, meanwhile, is days away from returning to contact, and Storr continues to practice while UNLV waits for another eligibility ruling.
Jones nears full-contact return
Jones spent his freshman season managing a shoulder injury that began before he played his first college game. He tore his labrum and dislocated the shoulder during the summer, later aggravated it against New Mexico, missed time and returned before finishing the season.
“I played all throughout the season last year,” Jones said. “I tore my labrum and dislocated my arm in August of last year.”
Jones underwent surgery April 15 in Los Angeles and has spent the offseason rehabilitating. Pastner said he will be cleared for contact Oct. 1, his first full-contact work since UNLV’s season ended against Tulsa in the NIT.
He still averaged 11.9 points and five rebounds as a freshman while leading the Mountain West with 2.2 blocks per game. Jones did most of his offensive work around the basket and gave UNLV its best rim protection despite playing through the shoulder problem.
The difference entering his second season is that Jones no longer has to manage the brace he wore last year. He said the shoulder feels better and expects the healthier offseason to give him a better chance to build on what he did as a freshman.
“It’s been a lot different,” Jones said. “I don’t have my brace on anymore. So, I’m getting more healthy, and I’m just trusting the coaches, trusting the guys, and it’s gonna be a big improvement from my freshman year to my sophomore year.”
His return also gives UNLV more freedom with the way Pastner wants the guards to defend. If Ford or another perimeter defender gets screened or beaten while pressuring the ball, Jones can still be between the ball and the rim rather than leaving the drive uncontested.
Jones has also spent his rehabilitation working on his perimeter shot. He made several 3-pointers during Tuesday’s open practice and said the staff has focused on getting his feet set and improving his mechanics.
“That’s what the coach has been trying to really emphasize, get my feet set, get my arm up,” Jones said. “I think I have a good chance to make a lot of threes this year.”
UNLV does not need Jones to become a perimeter-oriented big. His best work remains screening, rolling, finishing, rebounding and protecting the basket, but if he makes enough outside shots, his defender has to step away from the lane instead of waiting for Ford or Sebastian Mack to drive.
Two other rotation players are also working back from injuries. Tyler Harris is recovering from the MCL tear he suffered in June and could be physically ready around the Oct. 24 exhibition against BYU, although Pastner said Missouri on Oct. 29 may be more realistic. Issac Williamson is improving from a hamstring injury and is expected back sometime in October.
Storr remains ineligible to play
Storr continues to practice with UNLV, but he remains ineligible for games. Pastner said Storr had previously been eligible before a stay changed his status, meaning he cannot play in the Oct. 7 exhibition against Utah unless another ruling changes that before then.
“Technically, he’s ineligible as of today,” Pastner said. “He can practice.”
Pastner said Storr’s situation remains tied to litigation involving players from the 2022 high school class, including proceedings in Tennessee and other cases that could affect similar players elsewhere. He repeatedly returned Tuesday to the same concern: comparable players could enter the season under different eligibility standards depending on where their cases have been heard.
“My whole thing is I just don’t see how you can have some states allow certain guys play and some states don’t,” Pastner said.
Pastner said he would take the same position if Storr were the player allowed to compete while similar players elsewhere were ruled ineligible. He has also raised the issue with the Mountain West because those differences could eventually affect conference games.
“The money’s not equal, but the eligibility standards and the, you can only play five on the floor, the rules should be the same,” Pastner said. “Especially in the Mountain West Conference, you can’t have certain guys playing and certain guys not.”
Storr’s status also affects the most likely starting lineup. If he becomes eligible, Ford, Mack, Storr, MJ Thomas and Jones remain the most likely group. If he does not, Dontrez Williams becomes the likely wing alongside Ford and Mack.
Storr averaged 15.5 points at Ole Miss last season and would give UNLV another player who can create a shot when the first action of a possession does not produce one. If Ford gets cut off, Jones’ roll is covered or Mack drives into another defender, Storr has already spent several seasons creating against high-major defenses.
UNLV can still build a rotation without him. Williams can start, Williamson can handle significant guard minutes once healthy and Cam Miles gives Pastner another ballhandler.
Pastner also made clear Tuesday that his support for Storr extends beyond what he would add to the lineup.
“AJ Storr is a phenomenal young man,” Pastner said. “He’s a graduate. He’s graduated. He’s a great young man. He’s a really good basketball player.”
For now, Storr continues practicing while UNLV waits.
Suttle brings pressure, while Kiss shows size and shooting
Two freshmen stood out Tuesday for different reasons.
Suttle is already making life difficult for UNLV’s more experienced guards. Ford identified Suttle as one of the other natural point guards on the roster, along with Cam Miles and Williamson, and said the group has been willing to correct each other throughout the offseason.
“All four of us are always talking,” Ford said. “If I’m doing something wrong, they’ll tell me. If they’re doing something wrong, I tell them.”
Suttle has made his strongest impression defensively. When Ford was asked what he had seen from the freshman, his answer was immediate.
“I see a dog,” Ford said. “You can’t just come in the gym and just have a calm day with Koda because he picked me up 94 feet.”
Ford said the two have spent considerable time together beyond practice, including treatment, weight-room work and coming into the gym early or staying late. Suttle’s willingness to pressure Ford for the full floor also matches what Pastner is asking from his older point guard.
Pastner recruited Ford with the expectation that he would defend 94 feet. If Suttle can do the same thing when Ford leaves the floor, UNLV does not have to abandon that pressure simply because its starting point guard is on the bench.
Suttle still has to show he can run the offense against college defenses, protect the ball and defend without fouling when the games begin. But the freshman has already shown the willingness to make experienced guards work during practice, and Ford has noticed.
Kiss stood out in a different way.
The freshman forward looked bigger in person than expected and made enough perimeter shots during the open portion of practice to make that part of his game worth following. His size was already apparent from his listed measurements, but his frame was more noticeable on the floor Tuesday.
The rest of the frontcourt helps explain why the shooting caught attention. Thomas and Jones both do most of their work around the basket, Jeremy Foumena gives UNLV a 6-foot-11, 255-pound interior big and Moustapha Loum adds another long frontcourt player who can rebound and run.
If Kiss makes perimeter shots in games, his defender cannot stay around the lane waiting for Ford or Mack to turn the corner. That leaves Jones more room to roll and puts one fewer defender around the basket.
One open practice does not establish either freshman as a major rotation player. Suttle still has to run the team against college pressure, while Kiss has to defend older forwards, rebound through contact and show that his jumper holds up against a closeout.
UNLV will begin getting those answers Oct. 7 against Utah. BYU follows Oct. 24 and Missouri on Oct. 29, giving Suttle and Kiss three early opportunities to show whether what stood out in practice carries into games.
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