Zimm City: Rebels roll out red carpet and family atmosphere for top target

By Taylor Bern

Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014 | 2 a.m.

During Stephen Zimmerman’s first four official visits, the Bishop Gorman High senior’s presence was a big deal, and that’s not just because of his 7-foot stature. It’s an event when a top-10 basketball recruit comes to town, and Kansas, Arizona, UCLA and Kentucky each did their part to mix VIP treatment with the idea that their campus could feel like home.

Las Vegas is home for Zimmerman, so while his official visit to UNLV’s two games this weekend was met with signs in the Rebellion student section and 5-star dinners with the coaching staff, it’s unlikely this is the last time Zimmerman is in the stands for a game. He and his family are regulars at the Thomas & Mack Center and that hometown vibe is how Lori Stevens, Stephen’s mom, described the visit.

“It felt like we were hanging out with our friends all weekend,” she said.

Stevens has handled all interview requests during their visiting process, which wrapped up with this one at UNLV. The school that offered Zimmerman a scholarship back in ninth grade and once sent him nearly 100 recruiting letters in a single day got in the final word. Now it’s a months-long waiting game for five schools that each hope to have the five-star big man on their campus for a year or two.

The program that can actually get Zimmerman off campus the quickest might have the advantage. He’s made it clear he wants to be a pro, and not four years down the line.

“He wants to get to the next level as soon as possible, so he’s looking at who’s developing and who’s not,” Stevens said. “What positions are developing, which coaches are helping players to get where they want to be.”

That’s where UNLV coach Dave Rice’s offseason decisions, particularly to hire assistant Ryan Miller, seem like a big boost for the Rebels.

“Ryan Miller was an absolute excellent addition for them,” Stevens said. “The boys really seem to respond to him.”

And since they attend a lot of games, Zimmerman and his family are in tune with the strengths and flaws of recent rosters. Talking to a reporter while the Rebels trailed at halftime, Stevens had no doubt that this UNLV team would be able to mount a comeback — UNLV defeated Sam Houston State 59-57 — in a way last year's team probably could not.

“There were games last year when we knew if they were down by 11 they weren’t coming back,” she said. “(On Friday) they played with heart and they came back, and I think they’ll do the same tonight. This team has that fight and that heart in them.”

Zimmerman, who won’t sign a letter of intent, isn’t expected to make a decision until after Gorman’s season ends in February, so get comfortable. The schools have all had their say and he will weigh his options while monitoring their players’ development, including roster turnover.

Zimmerman knows what he wants. The question is whether he feels he must leave home to get it.

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