UNLV Rebels guard Keshon Gilbert (10) warms up prior to a game against the Air Force Falcons at the Thomas & Mack Center Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022.
Saturday, May 14, 2022 | 2 a.m.
Keshon Gilbert enjoyed a promising freshman season in 2021-22.
The 6-foot-4 point guard played in all 32 games and started four contests, and his energetic, ballhawking defense earned him fan-favorite status. Gilbert finished the campaign averaging 2.6 points, 1.7 assists and 1.2 steals — respectable numbers for a first-year player in 14.3 minutes per game.
It wasn’t enough.
Two months into the offseason, Gilbert made it clear that while he appreciates the experience he gained, he’s not content to be a part-time contributor. He wants to do more.
“I wanted a bigger role the whole season,” Gilbert said. “I was never satisfied. I didn’t really get the role I wanted.”
In the era of the transfer portal, that kind of answer rings alarm bells. When asked if he considered exploring his options after the season concluded, Gilbert’s response could double as a message for opposing ballhandlers who try to shake him.
“I’m still here.”
Indeed, the deadline to enter the portal has passed, and Gilbert is still rocking the Scarlet and Gray — and looking like a core component of the refurbished 2022-23 squad. So, what would make him happy? What role does he want?
Gilbert envisions more responsibility, both as a true point guard on the court and as a leader in the locker room.
“Being a point guard,” Gilbert said. “Being a person that everybody can come to for guidance, letting the coaches have more trust in me when I’m on the floor.”
It’s not difficult to see Gilbert stepping into those roles when the season begins in November. By the end of last season, he had gained enough trust to play major minutes in critical games, and with the season on the line Kruger had enough faith in Gilbert to play him the final 10 minutes in UNLV’s matchup against Wyoming in the Mountain West tournament.
Gilbert gave the team a boost that day, posting three points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals in 24 minutes, but he shot 0-of-5 from the field. And in the final seconds, his potential go-ahead 3-pointer from the corner bounced off the rim and UNLV was eliminated.
That closing sequence spotlighted a main weakness of Gilbert’s game, as he shot just 34.1% from the field and 28.0% from 3-point range over the course of the season. If Gilbert wants to log significant playing time every night, he knows he has to become a more reliable outside shooter.
Gilbert has been practicing his jumper every day in the offseason. He said he has identified a flaw in his mechanics, namely with his guide hand, and is now seeing better results with his refined form.
“I’ve been shooting the ball every day, just shooting, shooting, shooting,” Gilbert said. “I found what was wrong with my shot and I’ve been working on having a consistent jump shot. I’ve been shooting it a lot better lately.”
Gilbert with an improved offensive arsenal would be a game-changer for UNLV, as head coach Kevin Kruger appears to have assembled a strong defensive squad through the transfer portal. In talking with his head coach throughout the offseason, Gilbert believes the team is being built in a way that very much suits his style of play.
“I think it’s going to be a real defensive minded team. We’re going to get after people, for real. We’re going to be a real tough team — get stops and have our defense turn into our offense.”
Gilbert led UNLV with a steal rate of 5.0% last year, and teammates clearly fed off his energy and bulldog on-ball defense. In Gilbert’s mind, that’s the baseline for what he can bring to the team.
Next year, he wants more.
“I’m always going to set the tone and I’m always going to set the bar high as far as defense, and my offense is only going to get better. Last year I was the person to set the tone, get the energy into the team, but I’m going to have a bigger role on offense as well.”
Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala.