UNLV’s lone freshman earns respect with defense, competitiveness

UNLV hoops manager Kevin Kruger noticed thing astir freshman constituent defender Keshon Gilbert. Senior helping Bryce Hamilton notices it, too.

“He shows that helium has confidence,” Hamilton said Thursday during the Mountain West’s yearly media days. “He comes in, shows that helium tin play with the older guys. He does a precise bully occupation astatine it. He’s got a killer. He’s lone going to larn and get better. Every day.”

Maybe a small cliche, but close successful this case, due to the fact that Gilbert is the lone freshman connected a roster flush with juniors and seniors and is earning respect with his competitory nature. The erstwhile Durango High standout is impressing archetypal with his demeanor and 2nd with his defense.

It’s who helium is. What helium does. How he’s going to play. Why he’s going to get connected the level this season.

“My discourtesy ever comes from my defense,” said Gilbert, voted the preseason Mountain West Freshman of the Year connected Wednesday.

“If that’s however I’m going to get connected the floor, that’s what I’m going to do. … Just beryllium a dog. Work harder than my opponent.”

It’s the mode Gilbert has ever played — dating to his days a kid successful Peoria, Illinois, and St. Louis. The ones that predate his tenure successful Las Vegas, wherever helium began fulfilling his imaginable to blossom arsenic a three-star recruit. He moved to Las Vegas during his freshman twelvemonth of 2017-18 and played 3 years astatine Durango earlier concluding his prep vocation with a authorities title astatine St. Louis-Vashon.

He committed to UNLV astatine the opening of his inferior play and honored his pledge amid erstwhile Rebels manager T.J. Otzelberger’s departure and Kruger’s promotion. The remainder of the program’s freshman people fizzled, leaving Gilbert arsenic the lone teen connected the team.

With that successful mind, helium competes alternatively feverishly, and Kruger thinks the property spread serves arsenic further motivation.

“Being the youngest connected the squad … I deliberation helium astir uses that arsenic a affirmative insecurity successful trying to beryllium himself each time with the older group,” Kruger said. “That’s fueled him to person a accidental and to beryllium a bully assemblage player. Having that information has been great. I deliberation he’ll beryllium capable to bash large things this year. Because helium conscionable loves to play. … Sometimes you’ve got to archer him to calm down a small bit.”

Just not erstwhile he’s defending afloat court.

In practices, Gilbert is thriving arsenic an on-ball defender and often hounds his chap constituent guards each the mode up the floor. He’s grown, too, lasting present astatine 6 feet, 4 inches, and his size, length, quickness and enactment springiness him the antiaircraft versatility to cheque immoderate wings.

As helium said, his discourtesy is often a byproduct of his defence — though he’s a deft ballhandler who tin drive, decorativeness and footwear arsenic helium continues to refine his jumper. That said, Gilbert thinks it has improved capable for him to play disconnected the shot successful definite situations.

Upperclassmen Jordan McCabe and Marvin Coleman besides tally the point, and Gilbert has played disconnected the shot successful signifier successful lineups that diagnostic aggregate ballhandlers.

“He’s done everything he’s been asked,” Kruger said. “And from our approach, we announcement that. He doesn’t person his ain sentiment astir the mode things should beryllium done. If you effort to assistance him and manager him, he’s invited to it. He wants to get amended astatine it.”

Contact newsman Sam Gordon astatine sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon connected Twitter.