Rebels officially add two transfers to heralded incoming class

By Taylor Bern

Monday, June 2, 2014 | 5:10 p.m.

Two transfers made their commitment to UNLV official today with the program announcing it received signed financial aid agreements from Ben Carter and Jerome Seagears.

Carter, a Bishop Gorman High grad coming back after two years at Oregon, and Seagears, a senior guard from Rutgers, will both enroll at UNLV this summer. Seagears may be eligible for the 2014-15 season while Carter will sit out and have two years remaining starting in 2015-16.

“We are excited about the addition of Ben,” UNLV coach Dave Rice said in a statement. “He is a versatile forward who can score in a variety of ways and is a terrific rebounder.”

Seagears initially left Rutgers for Auburn after then-coach Mike Rice was fired following video of him physically and verbally abusing his players. However, Seagears only stayed at Auburn a few weeks and then returned to Rutgers and played the entire season.

“He brings valuable playing experience and has a great feel for making plays for others,” Rice said of Seagears. “He is also a terrific shooter, committed defender and a tough competitor. We are counting on Jerome to provide leadership.”

The Rebels expect the NCAA to declare Seagears eligible this season. If that doesn’t happen he would be able to sit out one season and play his last year in 2015-16.

The duo joins fellow transfer Cody Doolin, who also must wait for the NCAA to declare him eligible for this season, and a quintet of incoming high school players to form a top-five national recruiting class.

Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.