Dave Rice hasn’t had any trouble luring talent to Sin City since he took at UNLV over four seasons ago. The problem for Rice has been converting his highly-ranked recruiting classes into wins.
Thanks to Rice landing local five-star big man, Stephen Zimmerman, from Bishop Gorman High School, Runnin’ Rebels fans are hoping that 2015-2016 might be different for the program.
Rice has compiled an 89-47 record in four seasons, twice winning 25 games or more. However, in that time, UNLV hasn’t finished higher than third in the Mountain West standings. They haven’t won a single NCAA Tournament game. All that disappointment despite landing nine top 50 recruits.
Seriously, nine top 50 recruits without a single NCAA Tournament win.
This upcoming season may not be a make-it-or-break-it year for Rice and his job security, though speculation is certainly running rampant to that effect. However, if Rice can’t win with Zimmerman and company, than one has to wonder if he’ll ever really get things done at, perhaps, the most prestigious Mountain West program.
As for Zimmerman, the 7-foot post can score in so many different ways. He gets to the rim off the bounce, knocks down shots out to the three-point line, and is extremely active on the boards. Defensively, he blocks shots and alters many, many more than that.
He joins two other commitments in UNLV’s 2015 class, Derrick Jones and Jalen Poyser. Zimmerman and Jones make up for one of the most athletic frontcourt duos that any school in the country has coming in next season.
