UNLV’s Morant leans toward redshirt

As a 6-foot-1-inch defensive end and wide receiver, Demetris Morant fit the physical profile of a prospect on his junior high football team in Florida. A growth spurt changed everything.

By the time Morant became a freshman, he was 6-6, and it was obvious his future was in a different sport.

"I'm not going to lie," he said. "I first started playing basketball in ninth grade, and I never had confidence since I first started playing."

As a UNLV freshman and 6-9 forward, Morant has more confidence in his future than his present. So when he meets with Dave Rice in the coach's office on Thursday, the two are almost certain to agree on one key point.

"I would tell him I want to redshirt," Morant said.

Rice has five freshmen on his roster. Anthony Bennett, Savon Goodman and Katin Reinhardt are locks to play prominent roles this season, and Daquan Cook is likely to play.

"Demetris and I will sit down and talk about the possibility of him redshirting," Rice said. "No final decision has been made. I'll never make a guy redshirt. That might be in his best interest. I think he has a chance to be a very good player for us. It just might be best for his development to contemplate the possibility of redshirting."

Morant's first appearance for the Rebels, in their exhibition against Dixie State at 7 p.m. today at the Thomas & Mack Center, probably is going to be his last look of the season.

In only his fifth year as a basketball player, the 200-pound Morant is a raw offensive talent with all of the tools to be well-rounded after a year of practicing and weightlifting.

"He's probably the most athletic kid on the team," junior forward Mike Moser said. "He has a lot of upside. Whether he redshirts or plays, I think both would benefit him tremendously."

After playing as a freshman in Tallahassee, Fla., and as a sophomore in Tucson, Ariz., Morant moved to Las Vegas and spent his final two years of high school at Bishop Gorman, where he played for Rice's younger brother, Grant, and helped the Gaels win two state championships.

Morant was not a team leader. As a junior, he was a reserve and a quiet one. But as a senior, he started alongside Division I recruits Shabazz Muhammad (UCLA), Rosco Allen (Stanford) and Ben Carter (Oregon). Muhammad, the nation's top prospect, turned down UNLV, but Morant might prove to be the better long-term asset.

Ranked by Rivals.com as the nation's No. 150 prospect, Morant averaged 10.6 points and eight rebounds as a senior. A high-flying dunker, he also was a state champion in the high jump and triple jump in the spring.

"I know it's going to take some time," he said, "but I'm pretty sure I'll become a much better player."

Moser is even more certain, rejecting the notion Morant is too unpolished offensively to contribute this season.

"He shoots it better than people give him credit for, he's going to get better at handling the ball, and he runs the floor," Moser said. "He does nothing but work hard every day."

Morant might have wound up at San Diego State if not for last year's coaching change that brought Justin Hutson to UNLV as Rice's top assistant. Hutson was recruiting Morant for the Aztecs before relocating and helping to convince him to sign with the Rebels.

"I just liked the coaching staff here," Morant said. "I know they want to run, and that's what I do. I like to run.

"I need to get more confidence in my offensive game. Right now, I'm just worrying about every shot I take. I feel like it's a mistake if I take a shot or not. But I'm feeling better in practice.

"It's probably not a bad thing to redshirt because it's just going to get me better and stronger for next year. It would be hard to do, but I know I have to do it."

■ NOTES - Rice said he plans to start Moser, Bennett and Goodman in the frontcourt today, with Reinhardt and senior Anthony Marshall at the guard spots. Sophomore guard Bryce Dejean-Jones returned to practice Monday at full speed and could play about 15 minutes. Dejean-Jones broke two bones in his left hand Oct. 4.

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