Moser’s NBA aspirations create urgency for UNLV

A high-speed running game suits Mike Moser perfectly. In seemingly just a few long strides, the 6-foot-8-inch forward sprints from one end of the court to the other.

Moser is tailor-made for a UNLV system that maximizes his versatility, and that became obvious last season. It also became something he couldn't walk away from, even while eyeing the temptation of the NBA.

"It was only my first year of playing college basketball, and I don't think I was ready to give this up," he said. "I was having so much fun."

So he returned for one more run with the Rebels. By all indications, his junior season will be his last.

Each year, action photos of the seniors are put on a wall in the basketball offices at the Thomas & Mack Center.

"We've got Mike's picture up as one of the seniors," UNLV coach Dave Rice said. "When we meet as a team and I talk about the seniors, I talk about Justin Hawkins, Quintrell Thomas and Anthony Marshall, and I always include Mike.

"He needs to have a great year and move on to his next challenge. He's going to put himself in a great position after this year. One of the words that we always use with our system is interchangeability, and Mike's as versatile a guy as we have on our team."

Moser, who transferred from UCLA after warming the bench as a freshman, quickly turned into a revelation for the Rebels. He led the team in scoring (14.0 points per game) and rebounding (10.5) as a sophomore, ranking 10th in the nation in rebounding in the regular season.

His flirtation with entering the NBA Draft was brief. The league's Undergraduate Advisory Committee projected Moser to be drafted late in the first round or early in the second, and on April 1, he announced he was staying in school.

"It was not an easy decision," Rice said. "Mike had a very good season and the opportunity was there, and yet he felt comfortable with the situation here. It was certainly the right decision for him to come back and have a terrific last year at UNLV."

The Rebels' practice Monday marked their eighth day of preparation for an exhibition tour to Canada that begins Saturday. Moser surveyed the talent surrounding him and explained why his decision was made easier.

"We're definitely a top contender for the NCAA championship. No doubt about it," Moser said. "I just feel like I've got a good idea what it takes. With all the talent that we're bringing in, I feel like we've got just as much talent as North Carolina or Duke or any of the premier programs.

"I'm not really thinking about the NBA. The best thing would be we win the championship, and that would put everybody in a great position for the draft. That's my No. 1 goal. I can't wait to get these freshmen going and see how they fit into the system."

Anthony Bennett, a 6-8 forward from Findlay Prep, is one of the freshmen. But Bennett has not practiced and won't play in Canada because the NCAA did not approve his eligibility until July 26. He is cleared to play in the fall, and Rice plans to use the 240-pound Bennett as a power forward and shift Moser to the small forward spot.

Moser played at 200 pounds in March, but he's noticeably stronger after adding 15 pounds. Rice expects to utilize Moser more on the wing during the Canada trip, even in Bennett's absence.

"Bennett will be a great addition," Moser said. "It will help me, help Bennett and help the team. It kind of fits us all and puts us more in our natural positions. It helps us put a lot more size on the floor. We'll be able to throw out all kinds of lineups."

Moser has spent the summer working on his perimeter shooting, ball handling and post moves, and he showed off his moves in early July at the LeBron James Skills Academy at Rancho High School, where he was one of about 30 top college prospects to be invited.

In early February, when the Rebels were 21-3 and ranked No. 11 in the nation, Moser's draft stock was soaring. But he faded down the stretch, and so did UNLV en route to a 26-9 finish.

Moser is planning for a stronger finish to what almost certainly will be his final run as a college star.

"We were a tired basketball team at the end of last year, and again, that's not an excuse but more of an explanation. We need to be stronger for the whole season," Rice said. "Mike has made a concerted effort to eat better and he's lifted weights extremely hard.

"He certainly felt like there was some unfinished business, because even though we had a very good season, we were all disappointed about how it ended. I think Mike saw with the guys we've got returning and the guys we've got coming in, this could be a very special year."

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