Josh Pastner didn’t walk into an easy situation. He walked into a portal-ravaged roster, a fractured fanbase, and the shadow of another missed NCAA Tournament.
And yet—just a few weeks into the job—he’s already flipped the narrative.
No, the rebuild isn’t done. But it’s clearly on track. Ten players are locked in for the 2025–26 season, and the identity of this team is coming into focus: tough, unselfish, system-first basketball.
Let’s break down what Pastner’s built so far—piece by piece.
Returning & Recommitted Players
These are guys who didn’t have to stay—but chose to. That says something.
James Evans – 6’7 Guard
Recommitted after entering the portal. Evans didn’t play last season due to eligibility issues, but he was a top-150 prospect for a reason. Long, athletic, and defensively versatile. A two-way piece with big upside.
Tyrin Jones – 6’8 Forward | 4-Star Recruit
Jones reopened his recruitment briefly after Kruger’s departure but returned to UNLV under Pastner. A high-upside stretch forward with size and mobility. The kind of athlete who fits the modern game.
Mason Abittan – 6’6 Guard | 4-Star Recruit
A local standout who initially reopened his recruitment before recommitting. Abittan’s a strong, skilled wing with real shot-making ability and high IQ. A culture guy and potential future leader.
Jacob Bannarbie – 6’9 Forward
Returns as a depth piece in the frontcourt. Long and active with room to grow in a structured defensive system.
Transfer Additions
Every portal pickup has served a purpose. Pastner didn’t swing wildly—he grabbed system fits.
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (Illinois) – 6’1 Guard
Big Ten-tested. Explosive, aggressive, and wired to score. Dra gives this team backcourt athleticism it lacked. Expect him to push the pace and set the tone.
Emmanuel Stephen (Arizona) – 7’0 Center
A true rim protector with four-star pedigree. Pastner has a track record with elite defensive bigs, and Stephen fits that mold. Still developing offensively, but makes an instant impact around the rim.
Al Green (Louisiana Tech) – 6’3 Guard
Shooter. Veteran. Efficient. Green shot 42% from deep last season and doesn’t need touches to be effective. Perfect floor spacer for a young, aggressive backcourt.
Howard Fleming Jr. (UTRGV) – 6’5 Guard
One of the more underrated pickups. Averaged 12.3 PPG on 56% FG while contributing 6.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Strong, downhill guard who plays through contact and brings real toughness to the perimeter.
Ladji Dembele (Iowa) – 6’8 Forward
Started 21 games in the Big Ten last season. Physical, experienced, and surprisingly efficient from deep (38.2% 3PT). Adds size, rebounding, and veteran edge to the frontcourt.
High School Commitment
Issac Williamson – 6’1 Combo Guard | Roosevelt HS (CA)
The first true high school commitment under Pastner. Flipped from New Mexico. Shifty, confident scorer with a scorer’s mentality. He brings future upside to the backcourt rotation.
What It All Means
With 10 players locked in, this roster isn’t complete—but it’s coming together with clarity:
Backcourt is loaded with athleticism, shot-makers, and physical guards.
Wings bring size, length, and two-way potential.
Frontcourt finally has bodies who can rebound, protect the rim, and stretch the floor.
No portal randomness. No culture breakers. Just guys who fit what Pastner wants to build:
Tough, competitive, defensive-first basketball.
What’s Next
Pastner still has 3–5 spots to fill. Expect at least one more big, another dynamic guard, and possibly a high-level wing to round out the depth chart.
But the vision? It’s already here.
This is a roster that makes sense.
It has balance. It has edge.
And for the first time in a long time, it feels like UNLV is being built with purpose.
The Runnin’ might just be on their way back.