Five-star senior Stephen Zimmerman has decided to stay home for college, choosing UNLV over multiple blue-blood programs.
Zimmerman, a 7-footer out of Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman High, announced his decision on Twitter on Thursday night. His stepmother also confirmed it to ESPN.com.
The No. 10-ranked prospect in the ESPN 100, Zimmerman picked the Rebels over Kansas, Kentucky, UCLA and Arizona. He took official visits to all five finalists in the fall and then took a step back from the process for the past couple of months.
Throughout his recruitment, UNLV made a strong push to keep him in the desert, selling him as the missing piece to a talented roster.
"It was where he felt the strongest bond with the coaches and players," Lori Stevens, Zimmerman's stepmother, told ESPN.com. "He's looking forward to carrying on his winning high school tradition at his hometown school."
If NBA prospect Christian Wood decides to return to the Rebels, he and Zimmerman will combine to form one of the most skilled frontcourt tandems in the country. Freshmen Goodluck Okonoboh and Dwayne Morgan, along with Oregon transfer Ben Carter, also are in the mix up front for UNLV.
Zimmerman joins a UNLV recruiting class that includes athletic forward Derrick Jones (No. 27) and three-star guard Jalen Poyser.
The Rebels also will have transfers Nigel Williams-Goss (Washington) and Ike Nwamu (Mercer) on campus this weekend.
Zimmerman is the fourth five-star recruit to commit to UNLV in the past four years, joining Rashad Vaughn, Okonoboh and former No. 1 NBA overall pick Anthony Bennett.
