The UNLV Runnin' Rebels basketball program is starting to match their national ranking with their facilities on campus with the brand new Mendenhall Center. This facility is for the basketball team only and it is open at any time for them to lift weights, shoot and there are computers where the players can do homework as well.
Former coach Lon Kruger was around during the process of this and said this will help out UNLV quite a bit:
"When recruits come to campus, that facility is maybe as important as the playing arena itself, because players spend so much time there," Kruger said from his office at Oklahoma. "Anytime players are on campus and not in class, they’ll spend their time there. They’ve got computers, courts available to shoot at any time, weight room; hugely important from a day-to-day standpoint but also very important in the recruiting process."
This new building is on par with the top teams in the country and with it being a recruiting tool perhaps UNLV could land the 2012 No. 1 recruit Shabazz Muhammad and other top prospect in the upcoming years.
The building is adjacent to the Thomas & Mack Center and is a place where players will be spending a lot of time. The building officially opens today and there will be a public open house on Jan. 28 with an open house from 1 - 3 p.m. (PT).
Follow Mountain West Connection for more news around the clock via twitter, facebook and now google plus.