Rebels get first commitment in class of 2015

By Taylor Bern

Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014 | 5:45 p.m.

The Rebels have their first commitment in the class of 2015 as Canadian guard Jalen Poyser today picked the Rebels over interest from schools such as Rhode Island, Oklahoma and Creighton.

Listed at 6-foot-4, Poyser has been getting bigger in recruiting circles after big performances with his AAU team, CIA Bounce, and at the Nike Global and Adidas Nations events this summer. CIA Bounce is the same AAU team of former Rebel and Findlay Prep Pilot Anthony Bennett.

Poyser’s high school team, Athlete Institute in Orangeville, Ontario, features Thon Maker, the No. 1 overall player in the class of 2016.

Poyser’s relationship to UNLV started at Findlay Prep, where he played his sophomore season. That was current UNLV assistant Todd Simon’s lone season as the Pilots’ head coach after years as an assistant.

When Simon jumped to UNLV, Poyser returned to Canada but the relationship remained strong. Poyser was in town two weeks ago for an official visit during the Rebels’ Scarlet and Gray Showcase, and earlier this week Simon and coach Dave Rice were in Brampton, Ontario, for an in-home visit.

It’s unclear how many spots UNLV must fill in next season’s class, but Poyser at least gives them a start. The Rebels also have a class of 2016 commitment from Findlay Prep forward Justin Jackson.

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