Maryland shooting guard commits to Rebels

A couple of years ago, Patrick McCaw was stuck with a nickname because he seemed to strike a resemblance to an NBA shooting star, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors.

McCaw, humble and quiet, said his Twitter handle (@StephCurryJr) is not a reflection of his ego.

“People usually compare me to him because I can shoot it. I see some similarities,” McCaw said. “But I really don’t like to get into that comparison.”

McCaw, a 6-foot-6-inch senior shooting guard from Montrose Christian School in Rockville, Md., orally committed to UNLV on Saturday, one week after his official visit to campus. He said he plans to sign a letter of intent within two weeks.

“Once I took my visit, I enjoyed it,” he said. “The environment, the coaching staff, everything fit so perfectly, so I wasn’t going to pass on the opportunity.”

McCaw also visited Florida State and DePaul. He said Georgetown, Missouri and Southern Methodist were on his short list, while Indiana and Syracuse were among schools showing late interest.

“It feels pretty good. It’s a weight off my shoulders,” said McCaw, who spent his first three years of high school in St. Louis. “I’ve been getting so many calls from so many different schools.”

He might not be the second coming of Curry, but McCaw was one of the nation’s top uncommitted seniors. While most reports list McCaw at 6-5, the Rebels’ coaches measured him at 6-6 with a 6-9 wingspan.

McCaw is an addition to a UNLV recruiting class already considered among the nation’s top five. Findlay Prep shooting guard Rashad Vaughn, a McDonald’s All-American, and Cody Doolin, a senior point guard and a graduate transfer from the University of San Francisco, each signed in the past week.

Dwayne Morgan, a 6-7 small forward from Baltimore, and Goodluck Okonoboh, a 6-9 power forward from Wilbraham, Mass., signed in the fall.

Presumably, McCaw will play behind Vaughn, but also can compete for minutes at point guard and small forward.

“I’m a versatile player,” he said. “I can get up and down the floor and play defense. I can shoot it, I can handle it and make plays.”

McCaw’s commitment puts UNLV at the scholarship limit of 13. But another player or two could leave the program, and junior forward Khem Birch will announce this week if he plans to enter the NBA Draft.

Ben Carter, a 6-8 sophomore forward who is transferring from Oregon, is likely in line for the next open scholarship. Carter, a Bishop Gorman High School product, is expected to meet with the Rebels’ coaches soon.

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow him on Twitter: @mattyoumans247.