April 17, 2026 - 7:59 pm

The brand of basketball UNLV men’s basketball aims to play under Josh Pastner requires players who can score and rebound at will, and the team might have landed one of those on Friday.

MJ Thomas, a 6-foot-8 forward, is transferring to UNLV after two seasons at New Orleans, he announced via social media.

Hailing from Denton, Tex., Thomas could be a key inside presence for the Rebels. He averaged 10.8 points and eight rebounds in 27 minutes per game last season. He showed promise against top competition, including a 17-point performance against nationally ranked Houston in which he went a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line. He also delivered a 13-point outing against Mississippi State, finishing 7-for-7 at the stripe.

During his freshman year, Thomas averaged 11.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

Thomas established himself as a top prospect at Denton High School, where he averaged 17.0 points and 13.4 rebounds per game as a senior. During his junior year at Calvert High School, he led his team to a state championship game appearance while earning All-State honors, MVP recognition and a spot in ESPN Texas’ Top-25 rankings.

Thomas marks the second transfer addition this week for Pastner, who also secured guard Cam Miles from Florida State.

Miles and Thomas join returning freshmen Tyrin Jones and Issac Williamson as Pastner’s current building blocks for next season. With the 6-foot-9 Jones and Thomas, the Rebels are already looking at increased length and versatility in the frontcourt.

The Rebels are in the midst of a significant reset after seven players entered the transfer portal following the season, including leading scorer Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn. UNLV’s 2025-26 campaign came to an end with a loss to Tulsa in the second round of the NIT.

Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Callie__Fin on X.