UNLV Men’s Basketball received a signing commitment from former DePaul guard Jaden Henley and former Boise State guard Jace Whiting, head coach Kevin Kruger announced on April 15 and 17.
Henley, a 6-foot-7-inch, 200-pound guard from Ontario, California, played his sophomore season at the University of DePaul before transferring to UNLV to play for his junior year. Hanley played his freshman year at the University of Minnesota.
“We are extremely excited for Jaden to be joining the Runnin’ Rebel family,” UNLV head coach Kevin Kruger said. “He was a priority for us to bring into our program. Having coached against him two seasons ago and watching him since, it is evident that his experience, length and versatility on the perimeter are all things that will make him a great addition to our team.”
Henley attended Colony High School, where he was the No. 3 prospect in the state of California and the No. 2-ranked wing in the 2022 class.
During Henley’s freshman season at Minnesota, he played a total of 31 games while starting in 18 games for the Golden Gophers. He averaged 5.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and shot 38% from downtown for the season. Henley had his breakout game against the St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers, scoring 16 points and shooting 62.5% from the field.
At DePaul, Henley played a total of 32 games and started 23 games for the Blue Demons. He averaged 8.6 points and 2.7 rebounds. Henly had his breakout game against then-ranked No. 7 Marquette, scoring a career-high 19 points.
Henley looks to fill the role of Keylan Boone, who declared for the NBA draft and was no longer eligible to play college basketball.
Whiting, a 6-foot-3-inch, 188-pound guard, took to social media, announcing his commitment to play for the Scarlet & Gray. He played his first two seasons at Boise State. Whitling will be a contribution to Dedan Thomas Jr. ‘s illusive backcourt.
“We couldn’t be more excited for Jace to join the Runnin’ Rebel family,” Kruger said. “He is a tough, battle-tested Mountain West guard that we expect to have a tremendous impact on us on both ends of the floor. He is comfortable playing on and off the ball, and his versatility is something that will be incredibly valuable.”
Whiting attended Burley High School, where he was named a two-time All-Great Basin League selection and first-team All-Idaho during his senior year, averaging 24.4 points and 6.3 rebounds in the 2020 class. He finished his high school career with 1,430 points, the school’s current scoring record.
While attending Boise State, Whiting played a total of 66 games and started 11 games for the Broncos. He averaged 3.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and shot 44.6% from the field. Whiting had his breakout game in his sophomore year, scoring 10 points and 66.7% from beyond the arc in a 92-72 victory against the Wyoming Cowboys.
Henley and Whiting join Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry, James Evans and Pape N’Diaye as part of the incoming 2024–25 class for the Rebels.
The UNLV men’s basketball team finished its season with a 21-13 overall record and 12-6 in conference play. The team’s season came to an end after a third-round loss to Seton Hall in the National Invitational Tournament.
The Rebels continue their 2024 off-season by searching for student-athletes from high school and using the transfer portal to help build the roster for the 2024–2025 season.
