At the rate UNLV’s long standing search for its point guard of the future is going, perhaps Sasquatch himself should be expecting a scholarship offer from the Rebels any day now.
On Monday, Jabarie Hinds of Mount Vernon, New York, arguably UNLV’s top point guard target in the 2011 class, passed on the Rebels, committing to Big East power West Virginia instead. Surprisingly, Hinds decision came mere hours after the Mountaineers picked up a commitment from another highly touted class of 2011 point guard, Ryan Boatright of Aurora, Illinois.
After attending West Virginia’s Midnight Madness festivities this past weekend, Hinds appeared to move the Mountaineers atop his list of potential suitors. After Boatright’s commitment, however, the UNLV coaching staff was seemingly provided with a ray of hope. After all, Hinds and Boatright play the same position, and possess strikingly similar body types. Scouting service rivals.com lists Hinds at 6‘-0“, 160 pounds, and Boatright at 5‘-10“, 140. That ray of hope was dashed on Monday though when Hinds, nevertheless, committed to play his college ball in Morgantown for Coach Bob Huggins.
Missing out on Hinds is the latest setback in UNLV’s quest to land an heir apparent to Oscar Bellfield, who is entering his junior season as the Rebels starting point guard. Back in April, Cory Joseph, an elite, 5-star prospect who played for two seasons at Findlay Prep in Henderson, and who likely would have forced Bellfield into a backup role, chose Texas over a list of finalists that included UNLV. Weeks later, Bishop Gorman's Jonathan Loyd spurned the Rebels late scholarship offer, instead opting to sign a letter of intent to attend the University of Oregon. And though the Rebels offered a scholarship to Jahii Carson of Mesa, Arizona, the Pac-10 long seemed the inevitable destination for the 5'-10" standout, who ultimately commited to Arizona State.
Scratching Hinds off their list of 2011 targets has now left the UNLV coaching staff with a clear favorite atop their revised point guard wish list. Spencer Dinwiddie of Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California, the same school that produced current Rebel guard Justin Hawkins, is scheduled to make an official visit to UNLV the weekend of October 29th. Dinwiddie, a self described "big, pass first point guard," lists the Rebels among five finalists that include Colorado, Harvard, Oregon, and UCLA.
The Rebels, who have already extended a scholarship offer to Dinwiddie, hope to add the rising 3-star recruit to a 2011 class that includes Grandy Glaze, the nation's #138 ranked prospect according to Rivals.
A talented 6'-4" point guard good enough to draw interest from UCLA, while smart enough to earn a scholarship offer from Harvard? Sure beats the heck out of Bigfoot now doesn't it?
Comments
Dinwiddie seems like he is leaning towards Colorado right now. Hopefully his trip here changes his mind. And I thought Sasquach played center.
For UNLV's sake, hopefully the Taft bond that Hawkins shares with Dinwiddie comes into play. Important too, as a selling point, is the idea of Dinwiddie serving as Bellfield's apprentice for a season then having the keys...potentially...turned over to Dinwiddie as a sophomore.
As far as Sasquatch goes? He appears to be very agile in those Jacks Links Beef Jerky ads. I bet he can run a little point if need be.
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