UNLV Rebuilds Roster After Mass Player Exodus

Rebels coach Josh Pastner faces major roster overhaul with 7 players in transfer portal and 4 more graduating

Apr. 8, 2026 at 3:35am

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in navy, red, and gold, conveying the fragmented state of the UNLV basketball program as it undergoes a major roster rebuild.UNLV's roster overhaul exposes the fragmented state of the program as it rebuilds for the future.Las Vegas Today

UNLV men's basketball is undergoing a major roster overhaul this offseason, with 7 players entering the NCAA transfer portal and 4 more graduating, leaving coach Josh Pastner with just 1 returning player re-signed so far. The Rebels will need to rebuild nearly their entire roster through the portal and recruiting.

Why it matters

UNLV is coming off a disappointing season that ended in the second round of the NIT, and the mass exodus of players puts the program in a precarious position heading into next year. Pastner will need to work quickly to rebuild the roster and establish a competitive team for the upcoming season.

The details

The Rebels have lost 7 players to the transfer portal, including standout sophomore guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, the reigning Mountain West Newcomer of the Year. Other key losses include sophomore center Emmanuel Stephen and junior forward Ladji Dembele, who sat out this past season due to injury. Additionally, 4 seniors have graduated, leaving Pastner with just 1 returning player re-signed so far - freshman forward Tyrin Jones. Pastner acknowledged the massive roster turnover, saying 'No one's bigger than the program, whether it's the head coach or any player' and that he's prepared to sign 13-15 new players if needed.

  • On Tuesday, forward Emmanuel Stephen and Ladji Dembele added their names to the transfer portal.
  • The Rebels' season ended in the second round of the NIT on March 22.

The players

Josh Pastner

The head coach of the UNLV men's basketball team, tasked with rebuilding the roster after a mass exodus of players.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn

The reigning Mountain West Newcomer of the Year, who has entered the transfer portal after a standout sophomore season.

Emmanuel Stephen

A sophomore center who played his first season at Arizona and was Pastner's first transfer portal pickup, but has now entered the portal.

Ladji Dembele

A junior forward who transferred to UNLV from Iowa but sat out this past season due to a foot injury, and has now entered the transfer portal.

Tyrin Jones

A freshman forward who is the only player Pastner has re-signed so far, and will be a key building block for the Rebels.

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What they’re saying

“No one's bigger than the program, whether it's the head coach or any player.”

— Josh Pastner, Head Coach

What’s next

Pastner will need to quickly rebuild the Rebels' roster through the transfer portal and recruiting, with the goal of assembling a competitive team for the upcoming season.

The takeaway

UNLV faces a major rebuilding challenge after losing 7 players to the transfer portal and 4 more to graduation, leaving the program with just 1 returning player re-signed so far. Coach Josh Pastner will need to work quickly and aggressively to rebuild the roster through the portal and recruiting, in order to field a competitive team next season.