Jackson Kiss Earns Growing Role for UNLV

UNLV freshman Jackson Kiss is carving out minutes in coach Josh Pastner's rotation as the Rebels prepare to host Stanford.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Basketball

Jackson Kiss Earns Growing Role for UNLV

Freshman forward Jackson Kiss has begun carving out a role in UNLV's rotation, contributing 10 points, six rebounds and two steals in 26 minutes during the Rebels' 88-79 win over Samford. UNLV prepares to host Stanford on Friday at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Why it matters

Kiss's early production gives UNLV depth as it moves through its non-conference schedule and into Mountain West play. Coach Josh Pastner has said he expects the 6-foot-8 forward to make more significant contributions as the season progresses.

Kiss averaged 9.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 14 games at Utah Prep Academy before joining UNLV's program. Stanford, which is 3-0 and averaging 82 points per game, is led by Nick Townsend at 22.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.7 steals per game.

The players

Jackson Kiss

A 6-foot-8 freshman forward from Auckland, New Zealand, who was named the Mountain West preseason Freshman of the Year after a prep career at Utah Prep Academy.

Josh Pastner

The head basketball coach at UNLV, who recruited Kiss and has said the freshman should take off once the Rebels reach conference play.

Nick Townsend

A Stanford forward who was the Ivy League Player of the Year last season and currently leads the Cardinal in scoring and rebounding.

The details

Pastner signed Kiss in 2026 as a former four-star recruit, and Kiss has provided crucial minutes through the Rebels' first two regular-season wins. Stanford enters Friday's game at 3-0 after victories over Rice, Oakland and Eastern Washington, with Townsend, last season's Ivy League Player of the Year, serving as its primary scorer.

2026: Pastner signs Jackson Kiss as a four-star recruit.
2025-26 season: Kiss plays at Utah Prep Academy in the Nike EYBL Scholastic League.
Friday: UNLV hosts Stanford at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Season Trajectory

Kiss's early role matters because UNLV's conference position will be shaped by how quickly its freshmen adapt to Mountain West competition. The Rebels' first two wins set a baseline that will be tested when the schedule shifts to league play.

Kiss's growing minutes make him a player to watch for fantasy and bracket analysts tracking UNLV's depth. Stanford's scoring output and Townsend's all-around numbers give fans a clear benchmark for how the matchup could play out Friday.

The takeaway

Early minutes for a freshman can signal how a team plans to build its rotation over the season. Watching how Kiss's role changes against Stanford will offer a clearer picture of UNLV's depth.