Things are not going great for UNLV basketball right now, but as for next year? And the year after? The future appears to be in good hands, as high school commit KyeRon Lindsay is emerging as a difference-maker in the Class of 2022.
Lindsay, a 6-foot-8 forward from Denton, Texas, committed to UNLV in September and made it official when he inked a letter of intent last month. His stock has only risen since then, as he’s currently averaging 27.8 points and 15.7 rebounds per game for his Guyer High School squad.
Last week Lindsay got to see his future team up close, as he and his family made the hourlong drive from Denton to Dallas to watch UNLV take on SMU on Dec. 2.
Though the scarlet and gray took an 83-64 loss that night, Lindsay came away encouraged by what he saw. He understands that Kevin Kruger is still in the early stages of a rebuild and he trusts that the first-year head coach has the program moving in the right direction.
And Lindsay believes he is going to be an integral driver of that upward trajectory.
“It’s early in the season, they’re still working on things,” Lindsay said. “Watching today’s game, I could see that. But I can see where I could fit in, beginning next year. I know I could come in and make a big impact on both ends.”
Lindsay averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds as a junior, but that wasn’t enough to garner him major recruiting attention. He blew up after a strong showing on the summer circuit, including making the All-Peach Jam First Team in July (Lindsay is currently rated the No. 86 prospect in the country and the No. 16 power forward, according to 247Sports).
Kruger has taken a very discerning approach to recruiting high school prospects so far. In his first offseason in charge, he brought in a class of nine college transfers and only one high schooler (freshman guard Keshon Gilbert), and true offers to prep players in the Class of 2022 have been few and far between (point guards Milos Uzan and Richard Isaacs were offered but committed elsewhere).
After Lindsay broke out at the Nike Peach Jam, Kruger and his staff targeted Lindsay as a potential program building block. The lefty is long and athletic and has shown the ability to score inside as well as an emerging face-up arsenal.
He took an official visit to UNLV in September, and after two days of observing practice, meeting with the staff and getting to know the players, Lindsay came away convinced it was the right fit.
“Me being on the visit sealed the deal,” Lindsay said. “The fun we had, the talks we had. And then seeing the facilities and meeting coach Kruger officially. He told me what he had as a team, and this being his first year here and wanting to bring that program back. He wanted me to be a part of bringing UNLV back to what they were a long time ago.”
After leaving Dallas, Lindsay continued his impressive senior season, scoring 27 and 30 points to lead his Guyer team to a pair of wins last week.
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.
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