INTRODUCTION | The Untold Story of Former Rebels Thriving in 2025
College basketball changes fast — rosters flip, systems evolve, and players search for the best fit to unlock their game. In 2025, several former UNLV Rebels are proving that the talent in Las Vegas has always been real. They’ve stepped into new roles across the country, and the results speak for themselves: production, consistency, and breakout performances that command attention.
This feature isn’t about regret. It’s about growth, opportunity, and what happens when players find programs that match their skill sets. From the SEC to the Mountain West, from the ACC to the Big Sky and MAC, former Rebels are validating their potential on big stages.
Here’s the full breakdown — the most impactful former Rebels of the 2025 season and the stories their numbers tell.
**THE HEADLINERS
Former Rebels Now Starring on the National Stage**
🎯 Dedan Thomas Jr. – LSU (SEC) | Point Guard
2025-26: 13.3 PPG | 7.3 APG | 4.3 RPG | 52.2% FG
One of the most electric point guards to come through UNLV in the modern era is showing the SEC exactly what Vegas already knew. Dedan Thomas Jr. has seamlessly taken over LSU’s offense — commanding pace, dictating tempo, and delivering the same poise that once made him the heartbeat of the Rebels’ attack.
His growth as a facilitator is obvious. His impact winning games is immediate. And if you’re evaluating guards who control a game without ever speeding up, Thomas’ name has to be near the top of the list.
Why he’s impactful:
- 🎯 Elite pace control
- 🧠 High-IQ decision-making
- 🔁 Low-turnover floor general
- ⭐ Top-25 PG in the country right now
🚀 Jaden Henley – Grand Canyon (MWC) | Guard/Wing
2025-26: 16.7 PPG | 5.3 RPG | 1.3 SPG | 50% FG
Henley has become exactly what evaluators projected — a downhill scoring wing with Power-5 athleticism and Mountain West toughness. Now at Grand Canyon, he’s a primary option, a late-clock bucket, and a mismatch problem in almost every lineup.
Henley’s improvement shows what a bigger offensive role can unlock.
Why he’s impactful:
- 🚀 Primary scorer with pro-level burst
- 🎯 Attacks gaps and finishes through contact
- 🧠 Better shot selection and spacing reads
- ⭐ Could be All–Mountain West in his first season
⭐ Jeremiah Cherry – Sacramento State (Big Sky) | F/C
2025-26: 17.3 PPG | 9.7 RPG | 4.0 BPG | 48.7% FG
No player in this group has exploded more than Jeremiah Cherry. After leaving UNLV, Cherry stepped into a feature role at Sacramento State — and he’s playing like one of the most dominant frontcourt players on the West Coast.
Double-doubles. Rim protection. Playmaking out of the high post. Cherry looks like a player who simply needed consistent minutes and freedom to show his skill set.
Why he’s impactful:
- ⭐ Legit double-double threat
- 🔁 Plays 30–35 minutes nightly
- 🎯 High-level rim protection (4 BPG)
- 🚀 Emerging as a pro prospect in the Big Sky
🎯 Jace Whiting – Weber State (Big Sky) | Guard
2025-26: 14.7 PPG | 56.7% FG | 42.9% 3PT
Whiting’s stop at UNLV was brief, but at Weber State he’s become an efficient, confident scoring guard. The shotmaking is real. The poise is real. The fit looks perfect.
Why he’s impactful:
- 🎯 High-efficiency shooter
- 🧠 Smart, structured guard play
- 🚀 Thriving with freedom and confidence
⭐ Jailen Bedford – Virginia Tech (ACC) | Wing
2025-26: 13.0 PPG | 57.7% FG
Bedford is playing the best basketball of his life in the ACC — thriving as a scoring wing, attacking closeouts, and finishing at a high clip. Another example of a Rebel guard who found a system that fits his strengths.
Why he’s impactful:
- ⭐ High-efficiency scorer
- 🚀 Improved confidence and assertiveness
- 🎯 Starting-caliber ACC wing
⭐ Rob Whaley Jr. – Kent State (MAC) | Forward
2025-26: 12.7 PPG | 5.0 RPG | 2.3 APG
Rob Whaley Jr. has quietly become one of the most productive frontcourt transfers in the MAC. At Kent State, he stepped into a bigger offensive role and immediately delivered — using his strength, touch, and improved footwork to score efficiently around the basket.
What he flashed late at UNLV — physicality, matchup versatility, and the ability to create offense in the paint — has become a consistent part of his nightly production. Healthy and trusted, he’s giving Kent State a legitimate interior scoring presence.
Why he’s impactful:
⭐ Reliable interior scorer
🔁 Expanded role + steady minutes
🧱 Physical, rugged forward who finishes through contact
🎯 Efficient decision-making in short-roll and low-block actions
🚀 Re-establishing himself as a high-value frontcourt piece
**STRONG CONTRIBUTORS
Not Stars, But Solid Pieces Elsewhere**
Isaiah Cottrell – Southern Utah (WAC) | Stretch Big
2025-26: 8.7 PPG | 6.0 RPG | 1.3 APG | 50% FG
A Bishop Gorman product, Cottrell has embraced a steady role at Southern Utah — spacing the floor, rebounding, and providing maturity in the frontcourt. He’s not a headliner, but he’s a valuable contributor who understands his role.
Impact Snapshot:
- 🎯 Reliable mid-range/three-point touch
- 🔁 Veteran presence
- 🧱 Physicality in the paint
Pape N’Diaye – Xavier (Big East) | 7-Foot Rim Protector
2025-26: 1.0 PPG | 1.7 RPG (Limited minutes)
N’Diaye’s numbers don’t pop, but his presence does. His length, timing, and mobility still translate at the Big East level. His development curve is slower — but evaluators aren’t writing him off.
Impact Snapshot:
- 🧱 Elite measurables
- 🎯 Defensive upside
- 🔁 Developing offensive game
**WHAT IF THEY STAYED AT UNLV?
An Evaluator’s Perspective**
If UNLV retained Thomas, Henley, Bedford, Cherry, Whiting, and Whaley in one collective roster, the Rebels would boast:
- 🎯 Elite guard play
- 🚀 Dynamic scoring wings
- ⭐ High-ceiling frontcourt talent
- 🧱 Rim protection
- 🧠 Veteran IQ
- 🔁 Depth across all positions
That combination is the foundation of a Top-25 caliber team.
But this story isn’t about what UNLV lost — it’s about what these young men have gained: fit, development, opportunity, and confidence.
FINAL TAKE | Unit 1 Hoop Source
From Baton Rouge to Phoenix, Sacramento to Kent State, former Rebel players are proving that talent thrives when fit and opportunity align. Their success is a reflection of their work, their belief, and the systems that allow them to grow.
- The talent at UNLV has been real.
- Fit, opportunity, and development matter just as much as recruiting rankings.
As these players shine across the country, the message to fans, coaches, scouts, and evaluators is simple:
UNLV didn’t lose talent — that talent simply found new places to grow.
And as we continue to follow their journeys, we’ll keep providing the scouting, context, and insider evaluation that defines Unit 1 Hoop Source.
Editorial Disclaimer:
All evaluations, scouting reports, and features published by Unit 1 Hoop Source are based on firsthand observations, verified film review, and trusted sources. Our content reflects authentic, original journalism and is intended to provide accurate, fact-checked insight for players, families, coaches, and evaluators.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
© 2025 Kim Muhammad | Unit 1 Hoop Source. All Rights Reserved.
This article and all written content on this platform are protected under U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S. Code).
No part of this material may be reproduced, republished, or distributed without prior written consent.
Contact: u1hoop@gmail.com
Unit 1 Hoop Source 