Josh Pastner just secured his most high-upside addition yet.
Naas Cunningham, the 6’7” wing and former five-star recruit who once held the No. 1 overall ranking in the 2023 class (per On3), has officially committed to UNLV after redshirting his freshman season at Alabama.
Cunningham joins the Rebels as a long, versatile piece with pro-level potential—and a point to prove.
A Name With National Pedigree
Before reclassifying, Naas Cunningham was viewed by many as one of the top high school prospects in the country. He played for Overtime Elite, bringing elite exposure and top-tier competition, and chose Alabama over several blue bloods. While he didn’t see the floor in his first year with the Crimson Tide, it wasn’t due to a lack of ability.
Instead, he redshirted to focus on development, with Alabama head coach Nate Oats praising his work ethic, patience, and long-term ceiling.
“Naas is the type of player who, once his body catches up to the college game, can be an elite defender and mismatch problem,” Oats told media earlier this year.
The Fit at UNLV
Josh Pastner’s first few additions at UNLV have been system-driven: physical guards, smart passers, defensive anchors. Now, he’s added length and star potential.
Cunningham isn’t just a “future” guy—he fills real gaps now:
Wing depth with size (6’7”, long arms)
Transition scoring and slashing
Switchable defender across 2–4
Potential floor spacer as development continues
He doesn’t need to be the go-to scorer right away. Surrounded by veterans like Al Green, Howard Fleming Jr., and Emmanuel Stephen anchoring the paint, Cunningham can play free, grow into a bigger role, and provide instant energy as a two-way wing.
This Is a Statement
Pastner isn’t just building a roster—he’s rebuilding belief.
Landing a former five-star recruit who once topped the national rankings shows that UNLV can still land elite talent, even in a transfer-driven era.
Cunningham is still just scratching the surface. But if he hits his stride? UNLV might’ve just landed the most talented player in the Mountain West.
The rebuild is still rolling. And with Cunningham, the ceiling just got a lot higher.