UNLV Runnin’ Rebels Players Enter Transfer Portal

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Keyshawn Hall (14), shoots the ball. Photo by Kalin Sipes

Keshon Gilbert, Keyshawn Hall, David Muoka and Victor Iwuakor each announced that they entered the transfer portal during the 2023 college basketball off-season.

Along with the players entering the transfer portal, the Runnin’ Rebels will lose EJ Harkless and Jordan McCabe because they are no longer eligible to play NCAA college basketball.

Gilbert played on the Runnin’ Rebels for two years and was the starting point guard in his second season.

Gilbert was a highly touted prospect at Vashon High School in St. Louis, Missouri as a three-star ESPN recruit and earned college offers from UNLV, Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma and USC.

In Gilbert’s first season, he was a defensive role player that averaged 1.7 steals per game.

After an off-season to develop his game, Gilbert became a sophomore sensation for the Runnin’ Rebels as a two-way guard scoring 11.8 points per game and leading the team with 52 steals in the 2022-2023 season.

“First off I want to thank the entire Las Vegas community for embracing me and making me a part of the rebel family. The coaching staff along with every single teammate that helped push me to become better and reminding me that I always have more in me. Most of all I would like to thank coach Kevin Kruger for believing in me and letting me be myself. Everything you taught me will always be with me.” Gilbert (@keshonn._) wrote on Instagram.

Muoka entered the NCAA as an international prospect going to high school in Hong Kong graduating from West Island School in 2018 and then attending Athlete Institute Prep located in Ontario, Canada. Muoka averaged a double-double during the 2018-2019 season with 10.9 points per game and 11.8 rebounds per game in the Ontario Scholastic Basketball Association.

Muoka played two years as a Runnin’ Rebel after starting his college career at Lamar University in Texas, where he was named Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year in the 2020-2021 season.

Muoka was the starting center for the Runnin’ Rebels during the 2022-2023 season. Muoka led the team with 45 blocks in the season; however, he had trouble finding ways to score, averaging under five points a game.

Iwuakor transferred to UNLV in the 2021 off-season after playing for two years at Oklahoma University. 

Iwuakor earned Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors in his tenure on the Sooners, but he transferred to UNLV to get an expanded role on the roster.

Iwuakor, after having an injury, rattled the 2021-2022 season for the Runnin’ Rebels and had an occasional starting forward role. Iwuakor played in 32 games and started in eight of them in the 2022-2023 season.

In the 2022-2023 season, Iwuakor averaged three points, two rebounds and just over one block per game. 

Hall was also another high school prospect that gained attention from many schools after leading his league in scoring at Denver Prep Academy in 2022. The schools that showed interest in Hall were UNLV, Arizona State, University of Missouri, and Saint Mary’s Academy.

Hall played his first year of basketball for the Runnin’ Rebels as a 6-foot-7, 250-pound guard. Hall played in 17 games in the season and averaged a little over 11 minutes per game.

Hall made the most of his time on the court knocking down 50% of his 3-pointers and scoring just under six points per game.

“Thank you to all the UNLV coaches, trainers, and staff for believing in me and giving me the chance to compete at the next level. I am forever grateful for the opportunity. Thank you to my teammates for welcoming me to the program with open arms – throughout the course of the season I grew tremendously both on and off the court.” Hall (@xkeyy2) wrote on Twitter.

The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels had a 19-13 overall record with a 7-11 Mountain West Conference record in the 2022-2023 season and its season came to an end in an overtime loss to the Boise State Broncos 87-76 in the Mountain West Championship Quarterfinal.

The Runnin’ Rebels will use the 2023 off-season to search for student-athletes from the 2023 high school class and transfer portal to rebuild the roster for the 2023-2024 season.

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