WBB2K22: UNLV Preview

Women's college basketball is coming soon. Here at Winners Only, we will be dropping some previews of our favorite teams to watch for the 2k22 season. Our theme for women's sports in 2022 is "Rise of the Woman."

UNLV Roster

Number, Name, Position, Height, Class, Hometown, High School/Previous College or University

0 Taylin Smith, Guard, 5-6, Freshman, Beaverton, Oregon, Liberty High School

1 Nneka Obiazor, Forward, 5-10, Sophomore, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Youngstown, Ohio

2 Kenadee Winfrey, Guard, 5-11, Freshman, Canyon Texas, Canyon High School

3 Kiara Jackson, Guard, 5-7, Freshman, Grand Prairie, Texas, South Grand Prairie High School

5 Jade Thomas, Sophomore 5-10, Sophomore, Las Vegas, Nevada, Centennial High School

11 Justice Ethridge, Guard, 5-9, Senior, Las Vegas, Nevada, Centennial High School

12 Alyssa Durazo-Frescas, Guard, 5-7, Freshman, Newport Beach, California, Mater Dei High School

15 Keyana Wilfred, Center, 6-3, Junior, Mitchell, Nebraska, Mitchell High School

20 Khayla Rooks, Forward, 6-1, Senior, San Marcos, California, Washington

23 Desi-Rae Young, Center, 6-1, Sophomore, Las Vegas, Nevada, Desert Oasis High School

24 Essence Booker, Guard, 5-8, Junior, Las Vegas, Nevada, Ball State

30 Nia Johnson, Guard, 5-8, Senior, Sacramento, California, Diablo Valley College

44 Alyssa Brown, Forward, 6-1, Freshman, Tucson, Arizona, Sahuaro High School

Head Coach Lendy La Rocque

Last Season's Record: 15-9

Opening Game: Nov. 9, at Oral Roberts

Players to Watch

Desi-Rae Young

If all else fails, give the ball to Desi-Rae! She made a team best 51 percent of her shots last season with a scoring average of 12.7 points per game. In two games Young displayed perfection. Against Northern Arizona she shot 4-4 from the field and 3-3 from the free-throw line scoring 11 points. Exactly two months later she made 6-6 from the field and 2-2 from the free-throw line with 13 points against Utah State. She scored at least 20 points in three contests, including a season best 21 against Wyoming where she shot 7-10. Young was also second on the team with an average of 6.6 rebounds per game. The 6-1 center collected five double-doubles last season.

Nia Johnson

A Mountain West All-Conference selection, Nia Johnson posted a scoring average of 12.1 points per game. She also averaged 1.2 steals per contest. Her biggest performances of last season came in back-to-back games against Nevada where she scored 28 points on both days shooting a combined 12-21 from three. Her third game over the 20-point mark came against San Diego State where she posted 22 points in a 15-point road win. She shot 4-9 from three-point land in that game. Johnson had two double-doubles last season including a 19-point, 12-rebound effort against Pacific.

Nneka Obiazor

After being named the Freshman of the Year last season by Winners Only, Nneka Obiazor has left Youngstown State after one year for hopeful greener pastures at UNLV. The smallish but bullish forward averaged 15.3 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Penguins. She scored 20 points or more on four occasions last season including a 29-point explosion against Cleveland State where she shot 4-6 from three. The game before that she shot a season best 5-8 from three on a 17-point effort against IUPUI.

Jade Thomas

Jade Thomas can be a dangerous player for opponents. She pitches in multiple ways. Last season she knocked down a season high seven threes on 10 attempts in a 24-point game against Loyola Marymount. She also had a double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds in a road win against Fresno State. Thomas snatched a season best four steals in a against Boise State and dished out five assists in two different contests.

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